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02 



Heinrich Gernhardt 



AND 



HIS DESCENDANTS. 



HISTORICAL FACTS AND MUSINGS — COGITATIONS ON INTEREST- 
ING GENEALOGICAL PROBLEMS— RECORDS OF THE BIRTHS, 
MARRIAGES AND DEATHS OF ALL BRANCHES (W THE 
FAMILY— BRIEF SKETCHES OF MANY OF THE 
MEMBERS- AND SOME INTERESTING REMI- 
NISCENCES OF THE GREAT CIVIL AVAIJ. 



BY JEREMIAH M. M..GERNERD. 



PRKSS OF THK GAZKTTE AM' I'.II.LETIN, 

WILLIAMSPORT, I'A. 

l!K)l. 



PREFACE. 

There was no thought at first that a Preface would be needed 
to this genealogical compilation. Everything under this head was 
said in the Introductory chapter that it was supposed the indulgent 
kindred — for whom alone the book has been written — would de- 
sire to know, or that there was to tell them. But now that the 
manuscript is ready to go to the printer, and will make a much 
more costly and pretentious book than was contemplated, it seems 
proper that something more should be said about it. 

The first thought was to compile a complete up-to-date Family 
Register, not omitting a single name or date, but in this the effort 
is not a complete success. It was imagined that a mere booklet of 
about forty pages would suffice to contain a full birth, marriage, 
and mortuary record of the family, with such notes of interest 
here and there as could be gleaned, but this was a misapprehen- 
sion. A great deal of time was spent during the last six years, 
and hundreds of letters were written each year, indeed often more 
than one hundred letters a month, to obtain the needed data, and 
still the record is not complete. It is with some reluctance, there- 
fore, that the book is thus sent to press. 

In some cases the full names and dates were not obtained, in a 
number of instances the dates given by dift'crent members of the 
same branches of the family do not agree, and in the records of 
some of the branches the members of the sixth and seventh gen- 
erations do not appear. It was not surmised that the family in less 
than 140 years had become so immense, so widel}- scattered, so 
intermarried with other families, and now exists under so many 
divergent conditions of life, and that such wearisome labor was 
involved in writing its history. Many of the letters mailed were 
never answered, and many of the responses received were so tardy 
in coming that the work at times became exceedingly irksome, and 
it more than once seemed nt'cessary to put it aside. Since imder- 



4 Preface. 

taking the labor the author has learned of a number of persons who 
attempted to perform the same task for other families, and after 
making some progress were so dismayed by the difficulties loom- 
ing up that they gave up in despair. No one can conceive how 
tedious and Herculean such service is without trying to perform it. 

The Gernhardt family will seem great in at least one respect — 
numbers. In America it now includes seven generations, and is 
scattered over 26 states, from the Atlantic to the Pacific. The 
number of Heinrich's descendants, dead and living, is now some- 
where between two and three thousand. A respectable family in 
point of size, certainly. How many of the kin would have guessed 
that there were one-fourth as many? And yet, although the 
fecundity of the family may seem exceptionally remarkable to 
many, it will not appear so to the genealogical student who knows 
how cotemporary families increase. 

All the names of the first five generations are believed to ap- 
pear in this compilation, and most of the sixth and seventh succes- 
sions. Not one name or date would have been omitted if furnished 
in time for publication. If any one now born hereafter wonders 
why his or her name does not appear in the Family Register, this 
statement will explain the involuntary omission. 

This history, as already intimated, is written only for the Gern- 
hardt kindred, and not for the unrelated. If Heinrich's descend- 
ants are satisfied with it, the object is fully attained. Outsiders 
are not expected to find it of enough interest to invest a dime in it. 

The kindred are united by a bond of union that should hold 
them all together in affection, and give them a peculiar interest in 
each other, and therefore also in this history of the family. If 
they cannot esteem their ancestors or their fellow descendants for 
worldly distinction and greatness, they can at least respect them 
for being average upright and well-behaved citizens, and we trust 
for those noblest of all virtues that win temporal and eternal hap- 
piness, which should be their highest aspiration. They do not 
essentially differ from other people. They share the common 
allotment of American families. They partake with the mass the 
same trials and struggles, the same triumphs and failures, the same 



Preface. 5 

virtues and imperfections, the same pursuits and opportunities, 
and can rightfully claim the same consideration they accord to 
others. They can be unconcerned about the renown, the mere 
distinction of rank and style to which many aspire— and which so 
manv fail to attain, or often fail to maintain. The great majority 
of our kindred have been and now are of the useful class, callous- 
handed and hard-working tillers of the soil, mechanics, bread-pro- 
ducers and bread-winners, wage-earners, and it is hoped that there 
is not among us one work-shirking bread-eater. 

Some of the family have been serviceable and prosperous in 
other useful pursuits— as physicians, dentists, editors, ministers, 
lawyers, teachers, merchants and manufacturers— and a goodly 
number (29) of the fourth generation went valiantly forth during 
the great Civil War in defense of the Union and Freedom. Four 
of the fifth generation also served in the Spanish- American \\ ar. 
Respecting the loyalty and patriotism of the family, none need ever 
feel mortified. The descendants of Heinrich and Rosine have 
ever stood gallantly by the Old Flag. Several of the consorts of 
the female descendants also served in the army, but in this genea- 
logical inquiry we have only passed down along the line of lineal 
descent. 

An interesting feature of the History is the collection of ex- 
cellent half-tone family pictures. All will doubtless wish wilh the 
writer that there were many more of them. Of Heinrich and Ro- 
sine and their ten children no pictures exist. Of the fifty-five 
lineal descendants comprising the third generation the majority 
died without leaving their posterity such a desirable legacy. The 
camera had in their day not yet come into general use. It will be 
a source of great satisfaction to all the kindred, however, that the 
History is nevertheless illustrated by portraits of at least eighteen 
of Heinrich's grandchildren. The fourth, fifth, sixth and seventh 
o-enerations are also in like manner represented by pictures. Many 
will doubtless hereafter regret, when it is fully realized how much 
interest there is in these memorials, that the opportunity was not 
taken to add many others to the collection Descendants in the 
future, it may be presumed, will look upon these jtictures of the 



^ Preface. 

present generations very much as the few existing portraits of the 
connections of the past are now regarded. 

For the imperfections of the book there is httle need of an 
apology. The author did as well as he could, sparing no pains to 
be just and accurate, and making no great promises to be ful- 
filled. The task would have been better performed if all the as~ 
sistance that was proffered had been given. But, alas, how true 
with us one and all, that "Procrastination is the thief of time." 
The intentions were good, but the tardiness was a bad thing for 
the Family History. Many correspondents failed to com^'e to 
tn-ne, and I could not wait on them anv lonc^er 

The long employed pen is now laid down with regret, as with 
all the uneasiness and misgivings, the disappointments and worry- 
ments, there were many happy hours in the accomplishment of 
this labor of love, and surprise and delight to discover the exist- 
ence of so many kind and appreciative relations. Adieu, dear de- 
scendants of Heinrich and Rosine, and sons and daughters of the 
First Adam. May we one and all so live that we may be members 
of the great family of the noble Second Adam, and some day have 
part in the glorious Family Reunion that will continue throughout 
eternity. 

Jeremiah M. M. Gernerd. 
Muncy, Pa., January, 1^04. 



LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS. 



VIEWS. 
I. Spring-town. Frontispiece. This shows some of the im- 
provements now on and adjoining the estate once owned by Hein- 
rich Gernhardt, where he died, and from which his family finally 
dispersed more than fourscore years ago. The big spring, sur- 
rounded by a group of willow trees, is ac the white house on the 
extreme right. His land all lay on the right or north side of the 
public road, two sets of farm buildings on which are represented 
in the picture. The White Deer Mountain, west of the hamlet, 
and on the opposite side of the Susquehanna River, appears in dim 
outline in the background. A brick school-house standing close 
to the buildings on the left was unwillingly left out of the view, 
because it could not be included and also show the house at the 
spring. The old graveyard on Delaware Run. a spot hallowed in 
our Family History, is but a short distance beyond the ridge be- 
hind the orchard on the right. 

2. A nearer and better representation of the famous "Sinking 
Spring"— a spring that does not sink, however. The water, clear 
and cold, continues to bubble up on the side next to the house and 
glides awav over the surface and down through the meadow, just 
as it did for Heinrich and the rest nearly one hundred years ago. 

3. The Delaware Run Church— or 'The River Church.- as 
often called— and the old section of the graveyard in which Hein- 
rich and R©sinc and many others of the family repose. 

4. Another view of the same graveyard, showing also the part 
added since Fleinrich's day. 

5. The very interesting Duck Farm of C. W. !•. C-erncrd^ 
near the city of Allentown, Pa., where, on a visit in July. 1900, i 
had the surprise of seeing 16,000 snow w.hite ducks. The foliage 
of the trees prevented getting a full i^hotographic view of this 
pleasing and WDiiderful scene. 



8 ' The Gernhardt Family History. 



PORTRAITS. 

MAGDALENA SHAFER BRANCH. 



I. John Shafer-*, 1824- 1903, Dansville, N. Y. 
2-6. Frank M. Shafer^, and family, Dansville, N. Y. 



7 
8 

9 
10 

II 



JACOB GARNET BRANCH. 

Philip Garnett^, McDougal, N. Y. 
Daniel Garnhart^ 1807- 1876, Shelby, Ohio. 
Jacob Garnhart*, Shelby, Ohio. 
Washington Gamharf*, Shelby, Ohio. 
Chauncy Wichterman*, Sanborn, N. Y. 

PHILIP GARNHART BRANCH. 



12-15. Maria Walton^, son Hopewell^ g. s. John^, and g. g. child 
Beatrice*', Muncy, Pa. 

16. Catharine Coller^, 1806-1860, Scottsburg, N. Y. 

17-18. Clarissa McNinch"*, 1830- 1899, and husband, Westfield, 
Pa. 

JOHN GERNERT BRANCH. 

19. Mrs. Hannah Donmoyer^, 1806-1864, Lebanon Co., Pa. 

20. Mrs. Catharine Hinterleiter^, 1808-1881, Kutztown, Pa. 

21. Mrs. Mary Anna Bortz^, 1811-1868, Trexlerstown, Pa. 

22. Nathan Gernert^, 1813-1879, Breinigsville, Pa. 

23. Solomon Gernert^, 1817-1887, Jonestown, Pa. 

24. John Gernert^ 1822-1900, Breinigsville, Pa. 

25. William Gernert^, AUentown, Pa. 

26. Benjamin Gernert^, AUentown, Pa. 

27. Reuben Gernert^ 1827- 1875, AUentown, Pa. ♦■ 

28. Rudolph W. Donmoyer^, South Bend, Ind. 

29. Milton T. Donmoyer*, Kutztown, Pa. 

30. William G. Hinterleiter^, 1844- 1903, Kutztown, Pa. 
31-36. Elwood D. Fisher^, son^ and g. c.'^, Kutztown, Pa. 

37. J. M. M. Gernerd^ Muncy, Pa. 

38. Lydia S. Gernerd^ 1868-1893, Muncy, Pa. 

39. Mrs. Maria Levan^, Reading, Pa. 



Tlic GcrnJiardt Family History. 



40 

41 
42 

43 

44 



Charles H. Levan^, Altoona, Pa. 

James W. Gernerd\ 1849- 1896, Alburtis, Pa. 

C. W. B. Gernerd'^, Allentown, Pa. 

Irwin Franklin Fcnstermacher^, Coplay, Pa. 

Ernest W. Gernerd''^ Williamsport, Pa. 

CATHARINE FOGLEMAN BRANCH. 



45-46. Simon P. Fogelman^ and wife, Dewart, Pa. 

47. Jeremiah E. Baker"*, Buffalo, N. Y. 

48. Davis E. Fog'leman'*, Riverside, Gal. 

MARGARET LITCHARD BRANCH. 

49-52. George Litchard^, son Almanzo^, g. son Martin^ and 
g. g. son Donald, Rushiord, N. Y. 
53. Margaret Clemons^, Sultphen, Kansas. 
54-57. Royal R. Clemons* and family, Manhattan, Kan. 
58-61. Roger Litchard'* and family, Arkport, N. Y. 

BALTZER GARNHART BRANCH. 

62. Benjamin Garnhart^, 181 6- 1894, Muncy, Pa. 

63-64. Samuel Garnhart^, 181S-1879, and wife, 18 — 1884, Del- 
aware, Township, Pa. 
65. Mrs. Sarah E. Taylor*, Delaware Township, Pa. 

66-70. Charles W. Garnhart* and family, Stillman Valley, Ills. 

71-74. Daniel Garnhart^, dan. Etta*, her husband Albert Berger- 
stock, and their dan. Mae^, Delaware Township, Pa. 
The photograph from which this engraving was made 
was taken by a young amateur artist who insisted on 
having the famil\- seated at the kitchen door. The pic- 
ture, just as it is, will be highly valued by all the rela- 
tions, as well as by the descendants of the venerable and 
now sightless representative of a generation who have 
nearl\- all gone to their graves. 

ANNA MAKIA WIl.I.IAMS r.RANCll. 

75. Mrs. Rosanna Kinman'^, 1810-1887, BcUbrook, Ohio. 



EXPLANATORY NOTE. 

In the records that follow of the different branches of the Family a number 
of abbreviations are used to save type-setting, as b. for born; m., married; 
unm., unmarried; c, child, or children; d., died; dau., daughter; s., son; 
n. c, no children; o., occupation; r., residence. A cross, thusx, means that 
the missing date, name, etc., was not ascertained. A figure appended to a 
name denotes that the person is of the generation the figure indicates, as, for 
example, .John Shaferi (son of HenryS, grandson of Magdalena'-, ) means that 
John Shaferl is of the fourth generation of the Family, and that he was a son 
of Henry and a grandson of Magdalena, who was the eldest of the children 
of Heinrich and Rosine. The names of the members of the several generations 
are »lso represented by different kinds of type. 



Heinrich and ROSINE Gernhardt 

AND THEIR DESCENDANTS. 



INTRODUCTION. 

To the descendants of Heinrich GcrnJiardt and his 'Zi.'ife, Rosine 

Fetternian: 

This book, the reader is reminded, is published only for pri- 
vate circulation, though perhaps hardly anybody outside of the 
family will want to read it. I would say that my father died 
when I was but ten years old, and that I lived to be more than 
threescore years old with but slight knowledge of my ancestors 
and kindred. I saw my paternal grandparents only a few times, 
when I w'as a small boy, and when I had no more interest in our 
family history than in the nebular theory of the astronomers. All 
that I knew respecting my great-grandparents of the Genihardt 
line before beginning to gather the data for this genealogical 
fabrication was their names, that they had several children be- 
sides my grandfather, that they had once lived in Berks County, 
Pennsylvania, and that from thence they had migrated — before 
my father's time — to some part of Northumberland County. 
When and where they were born, what their social and pecuniary 
condition was, when and where they were married, where and 
under what special circumstances they commenced and spent their 
domestic life, when they settled on the West Branch of the Sus- 
quehanna River, when and where they died, and where they were 
buried, how many children they had, and what became of them 
all, were matters of which, after my hair had turned grey, I still 
remained as ignorant as everybody now is of the pre-historic ages 
and origin of the North American Indians. 

It might here be asked. How many of the many living descend- 
ants of Heinrich (Ternhardt knew more than this — or as much — 
and could trace their ancestry back on the same line more than a 
century? When, several years ago, I was seizcfl willi an irrepres- 



12 The GcrnJiardt Fainily History. 



sible desire to know more about the early history of the family, 
and decided to gather the material to construct a complete geneal- 
ogical record, not one relative to whom I applied could give me 
any information, except what related especially to his or her own 
immediate branch of the family. This was not encouraging, and 
I began to fear that the undertaking would prove too much for 
my age and opportunity. But I found a link now and then that 
served to keep interest and curiosity alive, and that finally led to 
the discovery of many other links ; and thus was in time enabled 
to trace the Gernhardt blood, and formulate an almost perfect 
genealogical chain from 1765 to the present time. But there is 
nothing singular in all this. The great majority of the inhabi- 
tants of America probably know no more about their sanguiferous 
connections, and have no more knowledge of their ancestors back 
of three generations. 

If,as some have thought, "He that careth not whence he cometh, 
careth little whither he goeth," and it is true that "They who care 
not to know their ancestors are wanting in natural affection," then 
it might at first thought seem that the greater number of every 
family are wanting in natural affection, and foster but little con- 
cern as to their future life. I have not found this to be the case, 
at least not as a rule, either among my connections or my ac- 
quaintances, but believe that many thoughtful souls are reason- 
ably concerned with the all-important question of the endless 
hereafter ; that they fondly cling to the consoling belief that it is 
neither all of life to live, nor all of death to die ; and that at least 
the great majority are eager to hear about their ancestors, and 
know whence they themselves came and whither they are going. 
The truth is that interest in family history is now rapidly grow- 
ing in all sections of the country, and this is proof enough that 
natural affection is not wanting;. 

Knowing that our ancestor, Heinrich, had sometime settled 
in the county of Northumberland, it often occurred to me to go 
to Sunbury and see what the court records there might disclose, 
and finally I assigned myself the task of making the search. By 
the help of the obliging clerk of the Recorder I was soon de- 



Tlic Gcnihanlt family History. 13 

lighted to find the record of his last will and testament, which 
interesting instrument reads as follows : 

HEINRICIl GEKNIIARDTS WILL. 

In the Name of God, Amen. I, Henry Gernhardt, of Turhot 
Township, in Xorthnmherland County & State of Pennsylva- 
nia, being but in a midling state of health at present but of sound 
memory, mind and understanding, blessed be (jod for his mercies 
but considering the uncertainty of this life & not knowing how 
long it may please God to continue me on the land of the living, 
I do make and publish this to be my last will and testament m 
manner and form following, viz : — principally & first of all 1 
commend my immortal soul into the hand of God who gave it & 
my body to the 'earth to be buried in a christian like manner at 
the direction of my executors hereinafter named and as to my 
worldly estate wherewith it has pleased God in this life to bless 
me with, I give and dispose of the same in the following manner, 
viz : 

First. It is my will and I do order that all my just debts & 
funeral expenses be dulv paid & satisfied as soon as conveniently 
can be after my decease, as to my lands in York State, I give 
and bequeath as follows, viz : One farm containing one hun- 
dred acres in Sparta Township, in Ontario County, whereon An- 
drew Shafifer now lives, I give and bequeath twenty acres of said 
farm to my grand-daughter Catharine Gernhardt, daughter of 
my son Philip Gernhardt to her heirs and assigns forever. The 
said twenty acres to be laid of the northeast corner of said tract 
to be four square ; the remainder of said tract, 1 give and bequeath 
to my daughter Magdelena all the remainders of said tract of 
land to be wholl\- and solely at her disposal at her decease. Sub- 
ject, nevertheless, to a lease given by me to Andrew Shafl^er, hus- 
band of said Magdelena. Provided, nevertheless, that the said 
Andrew Shafi^er by or through his right of marriage or otherwise 
whatsoever shall have no right to sell anv of the above granted or 
bequeathed land from the said Magdelena, but that it shall be 
entirely at her own disposal. Provided that the purchase money 
which I paid for said land together with such notes or bonds as 
I have in m\- hands against the said .Shaffer with interest thereof 
does not amount to more than the equal dividend ot' the other 
heirs, if otherwise so much of the interest it is to be paid as will 
make each & every of the others equal, as to mv farm in Turbot 
township where I now live oil It is m\ will and 1 direct that it 



14 The Gcrnlianit Fauiily History. 

shall be appraised by six honest and disinterested men to be 
chosen by & with the consent of the heirs and after being duly 
sworn are to set a fair valuation on said land, and if one or more 
of the heirs shall take it at the valuation they or any of them 
is to have it, the other heirs consenting' thereto and the amount 
to be divided as is hereafter directed. But if neither of them 
wishes to have it at the valuation, then it is my will and direction 
that as soon as convenient after my decease that it with all my 
personal property be sold at public vendue to the highest and best 
bidders, and to be divided as follows, viz : 

First, the children of my son Jacob Gernhardt to be as one 
heir, my daughter Elizabeth Gearnhardt, my son Philip Gern- 
hardt. my son John Gernhardt, my daughter Catharine Fogleman, 
my daughter Margaret Lichard, my son Baltzer, my daughter 
Anna Marria Williams and my daughter Susanna Gernhardt my 
children & heirs to each of them to have an equal share of all my 
estate both real and personal after deducting out all my just debts 
& funeral expences which I order and direct to be first paid, 
except Philip Gernhardt which to have one hundred dollars less, 
and Baltzer Gernhardt to have fifty dollars more than the rest of 
the heirs, whatsoever bonds, notes or receipts for money paid for 
or to any of my heirs which are in my hands against them at the 
time of my decease, with the interest thereon due, is to be counted 
and be as so much paid to them of their share of my estate, my 
daughters Elizabeth & Susanna is to have each their bed and bed- 
ding, and what belongs thereto and a cow or cows equal to what 
their other married sisters get & Anna Marria Williams to have 
that cow that she raised on my plantation, and whereas I have 
purchased a tract of about one hundred acres of land in Ontario 
County, in the State of New York, whereon John Lichard lives 
on, for which there is no title made to me as yet and certain pay- 
ment to be made before the title can be got. It is my will that in 
case I should die before the payment is made or the title is ob- 
tained that my executors shall as soon as possible pay the money 
and make the title to Margaret Lichard and her heirs and to be 
off set as so much of her part. And it is my will & I do direct 
my executors to pay tO' my grand-daughter Catharine Gernhardt 
daughter of my son Philip Gernhardt the sum of one hundred 
dollars out of the monies arising from my estate, before a division 
is made with the other heirs, as to cloths and wearing appearal it 
is my will & I do direct that they be equally divided between my 
sons. 



Tlic Gcnihardt Family History. 15 

Aiid lastly. I do nominate, constitute and appoint my son John 
Gernhardt. Baltzer Gernhardt and my son in law Peter Fogelman 
to be the executors of this my last will and testament. 

In witness whereof. I have hereunto set my hand and seal the 
twelfth day of Feby.. one thousand eight hundred and twenty. 

Heixricii Gernhardt. [Seal]. 

(Witnesses — Thos. Smith and John D. Macklin). 

CODICIL TO THE ABOVE WILL. 

I, Henrv Gernhardt. of Turbot Township, in Northumber- 
land County, do make & publish this codicil to be part of my last 
will and testament, that is I leave and bequeath unto my three 
daughters, viz : Polly Williams. Elizabeth and Susanna the house 
that Baltzer now lives in clear of my rent for the space of one 
year after my decease, together with the garden firewood & hay 
through the winter for three cows that is each of them hay for one 
cow during the winter with half an acre of good ground to plant 
potatoes on, and the stable that is by Baltzer's house with the one- 
third of the apples that grows on the place all of the above men- 
tioned to be clear of any rent only the girls to assist in gathering 
the apples, likewise one hundred weight of good beef & one hun- 
dred weight of pork to be delivered to them by my executors clear 
of any charges and also fifteen bushels of wheat to be given to 
them out of my share and six bushels of corn & nine bushels of 
blickwdieat to be given to them also out of my share of the grain 
coming to me from Baltzer. 

Signed, sealed, published and declared to be part of my last 
will and testament, this twenty-eighth day of February, 1820. 

Heinrich Gernhardt. [Seal]. 
(Same witnesses). 

A revelation. 

Here was a revelation of great interest. Our almost forgotten 
ancestor had made his last will and U-slamcnt on the uth day 
of February. 1820. and came to the end of Ins life-journey, for 
which he was evidently ])repared, sometime ])robablv in April, as 
the will was placed t)n tile near tlic end nf that month ; though it 
was not until the 22{\ day of August that the tirst witness. Thomas 
Smith, appeared before the registrar and testified that he saw the 
testator sign the will. John 1). Macklin fur sinne reasdii did not 



i6 The Gernhardt Family History. 



appear to testify until the 30th day of November, when the will 
and codicil were finally proven and approved, and letters testa- 
mentary granted. Heinrich wrote his name in German, but the 
clerk copied it as it is written in the text of the will in English — 
Henry. 

There was to me a volume of history in this document. Rosine 
had preceded Heinrich to the land of rest and silence. Their last 
terrestrial abiding place was in Turbot* Township, about two miles 
east of the Susquehanna River. They had ten grown-up chil- 
dren, who, as afterwards learned, were named in the order of 
birth ; and one of these, Jacob, had evidently also before him gone 
the way oi all the earth, though many months passed before it 
was ascertained where he had lived and died, and what had be- 
come of his children. One daughter-in-law (Philip's wife) had 
died and left a child, Catharine, who was also kindly remembered 
in the will. Four of his daughters were iTiarried. and Elizabeth 
and Susanna were still single. Two of them, Magdalena (wife 
of Andrew Shafer), and Margaret (wife of John Litchard). 
were then living in the town of Sparta, Ontario County — divided 
the following year, so that Sparta is now in Livingston County — • 
in the state of New York. Besides these facts the will contains 
other particulars of interest relating to the family, and gives some 
light on the customs in rural life in that day. These disclosures 
gave great satisfaction, and were an immediate incentive to hunt 
for more "links" to construct, if possible, a complete genealogical 
chain. Here were a number of most interesting facts about my 
great-grandparents and their family that not a living relative was 
able to tell me. I was delighted. 

Another question that it was thought that examination of the 



*The proper and original way of spelling this name is TiirhuU, but being 
now always spelt Turhot, it is here under protest substituted by the name of — - 
a fish. The name was given in honor of Col. Turbutt Francis, a prominent 
pioneer, and soldier in the French and Indian wars, who, in 1769, immediately 
after the last purchase of this part of the Pennsylvania province, became the 
most extensive land proprietor in what is now Northumberland County. He 
owned all the land for a distance of eighteen miles along the Northumberland 
side of the Susquehanna, from the town of Northumberland to the neighbor- 
hood of Watsontown, and there is no earthly excuse for dropping his name for 
that of a fish. The village originally named Turbuttville (a few miles east of 
the Sinking Spring) now also has the fishy name of Turbot-ville. 



TJic Gcrnliardt Family History. ly 



court records would solve was, When did Heinrich locate in the 
county of Northumberland? The record of two real estate pur- 
chases were soon found that gave the answer. On the 19th day 
of April, 1805. he bought 181 3-4 acres of land in Turbot Town- 
ship of James Durham, one of the earliest settlers of the county, — 
the place is now in what is known as Delaware Township — known 
as the Sinking- Springs, for the consideration of "one thousand 
pounds in real specie." April 15, 1817, after the demise of James 
Durham, and only a little more than three years before Heinrich 
himself paid the debt of nature, he bought 162 acres more adjoin- 
ing of Durham's sons, John and William, the executors of the 
Durham estate, which now enlarged his plantation to 343 3-4 
acres. It is surmised, therefore, that he left Berks County some- 
time before his first purchase of the Durham property, now about 
one hundred years ago. I had learned many years ago from 
Daniel Heinterleiter, an old uncle living in Berks County, that 
Heinrich and his family had migrated from Greenwich Town- 
ship, from a locality about 4 1-2 miles northwest of Kutztown, to 
some point above Sunbury, in Northumberland County, but the 
date was not remembered. It is not improbable that he may have 
rented a year or so in the county before he bought the Sinking 
Springs property. The lately deceased Geo. W. Hassinger, of 
Reading, Pa., who married Susan Gernert^ (Solomon^, John^), 
at niv request spent several hours searching the court records of 
Berks County, but failed to find any evidence that our ancestor 
ever owned any real estate in that section. 

The next thing to inquire into was, What became of the four 
sons and the six daughters of our ancestors, Heinrich and Rosine, 
and where are their descendants living, and are they all useful 
and worthy citizens of this great land? And where were the 
principals of the family born, and whose progeny were they? Of 
the three eldest of their ten children I cannot remember that I 
ever heard either of them mentioned, and of some of the others 
neither I nor any one I asked knew whither they had drifted. It 
was soon evident that I had undertaken no easy task, at least for 
me, but my curiosity grew with each discovery, and there was 



i8 The Gernliardt Family History. 



real satisfaction in the genealogical inquest. " Tis Curiosity — 
who hath not felt its spirit, and before its altar knelt ?" 

After many inquiries I chanced to hear of ]\lr. John Shafer, of 
Sparta, near Dansville, N. Y., a venerable grandson of Magdalena 
the firstborn of Heinrich's and Rosine's children. I immediately 
wrote to him, telling him of our relationship, and that I was try- 
ing to compile a genealogical register and history of the family, in 
which undertaking he at once became deeply interested. He too 
felt the impulse of the fascinating power of curiosity. His knowl- 
edge of the first family was even more limited than mine, but 
for the information I imparted to him he gave most valuable help 
in return. These things are here mentioned because I am pleased 
to think that whatever relates to the family, and shows the slow 
progress in the production of this history, imperfect as it may be, 
will interest every thoughtful person of the friendsc/iaft. 

THE SETTLEMENT IN NORTHAMPTON COUNTY. 

Mr. Shafer had, with very respectful regard, preserved his 
grandmother Magdalena's precious German Bible. He could not 
himself read German writing, so he carried it three or four miles 
to a German scholar and by his help learned that it contained the 
very important record of his grandmother's birth and place of 
nativity, stating that she came into the world on the sixth day of 
February, 1771, in the township of Lehigh and county of North- 
ampton, Pennsylvania, and that she was married to Andrew Sha- 
fer on the nth day of February, 1794. Here was another revela- 
tion of great interest, as it at once indicated that Berks County 
could not have been the place of the original settlement. Magda- 
lena was, therefore, 34 years of age, and already eleven, years 
married, when the family removal to Northumberland Counts- 
took place ; and — as afterwards learned — the children were all 
born, Susanna, the youngest, being six years old when the exodus 
to Berks County from Northampton occurred. Sometime after 
learning this the opportunity came to visit Easton and examine the 
court records of the county of Northampton. Then and there 
the interesting discovery was made that our ancestor, soon after 



Tlic Gcrnliardt Family Hisfory. 19 

coming to America, had located on a tract of 157 acres of govern- 
ment land in Lehigh Township, for which tract he had not lifted 
his patent deed until 1790, and that he sold the same to one George 
Ensle, April 21st, 1795. for tlie consideration of five hundred and 
seventy-five pounds — a sum that now seems to indicate that he 
had for that day made some suljstantial improvements, and that 
he had selected a good piece of ground. It appeared from this 
that he did not at the longest live in Berks County more than 
eight to ten years, after having lived in Northampton probably all 
of thirty years. In this way link after link of the chain of the fam- 
ily history was found, and question after question came into mind, 
each new fact having its share of interest, but — after all — curi- 
ositv is never long satisfied. We always want to know more. 

Had Heinrich relatives in America ? It is not unlikely, consid- 
ering the rush of Germans to this side of the Atlantic, but we do 
not know that he had. There were other emigrants of our very 
variable name — presumably our name — and possibly related to 
Heinrich, who came from Germany at different times to seek their 
fortunes. There were Christopher Gerner, Hans Georg Gerner, 
and Johan Matheis Gerner, the proverbial "three brothers" perhaps, 
who landed at Philadelphia in August, 1750; Job. Georg Ger- 
ner, who came over in November, 1754; Christoph Martin 
Generdt, October 20, 1764; and Johann Christian Gernet and 
Johannes Gernet, October 2y, 1764; but nothing is known of these 
earlier settlers or their posterity, and one can only imagine that 
they may have been related to Heinrich. Their names may now 
be so changed as to bear but little resemblance to their original 
appellations — and the originals may not have been correctly re- 
corded. 

In Volume XVII 1 of the I'ennsylvania Archives, Second Series, 
a])pears llie name of our ancestor. Job. Heinrich Gcrnardt, — by 
the way, the editor of the Archives, Dr. W'm. H. Egle, complains 
of the "wretched chirography" and the still "worse spelling" of 
the original records — in the list of foreigners imported in the 
ship Chance, Charles Smith, master, from Rotterdam, last from 
Cowes, England. As to the prefix Joh., our ancestor either drop- 



20 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



ped it, or, more likely, it was inadvertently placed there by a care- 
less clerk. As there are not less than thirty-three Johans and 
Johannes in a total of but seventy-seven names in this one list of 
emigrants, it would seem that the registrar thought that about 
every other Deutsch-man must be a Johan. The Germans in 
their own tongue, by the way, were Deutsch, but not Dutch. The 
Hollanders, it must be remembered, were the Dutchmen, and our 
ancestor was not a Hollander. The Pennsylvania Germans must 
know something of HoUandish to be able to understand the dialect 
of the Dutch. "Pennsylvania Dutch" is therefore a very often 
misapplied name. But no use to insist on repudiating the name 
now, as it has become an Americanism as well recognized and 
as irrepressible as the title of ''Uncle Sam" or "Brother Jonathan" 
is for the United States, as "corn" is for Indian Maize, or as the 
appellation "White House" is for the Executive Mansion. When 
the Yankees call us Dutch we must just hold our tongue. (Fre- 
quent digressions it is hoped will be kindly tolerated in this his- 
tory, since so little is really known about our ancestors). 

All males over sixteen years of age were obliged to take the 
oath of allegiance to the King of England, "heartily, willingly 
and truly" — as each one "solemnly, sincerely and truly" professed 
and declared when taking the oath= — immediately after landing in 
America, being usually marched in a body to the Court House for 
this ceremony. This obligation was taken by our Deutsch an- 
cestor, Heinrich, on the 9th day of September, A. D. 1765, and 
no doubt — as the oath reads — "without any equivocation, mental 
evasion, or secret reservation whatsoever." As this important 
event occurred just 55 years before his death, it may reasonably 
be surmised that he was probably somewhere between 20 and 25 
years old when he became a citizen of the Province of Pennsyl- 
vania under the crown of Great Britain, and that he was therefore 
probably between 75 and 80 years old at the time of his death. 
It is a matter which all will forever regret that the graves of him- 
self and his consort were not properly marked. I am sorry to 
confess that not one of their descendants could even tell me where 
under the "clods of the valley" their bodies had been consigned 
back to Mother Earth. Of this, more anon. 



Tlic Gcnihardt Family History. 21 



It will also often l)e lamented, as time rolls on, that no one 
could tell when and where our ancestors, Heinrich and Rosine, 
were born, when and where they were married, just how they 
were situated for more than a quarter of a century in their 
Northampton home, and how they toiled and struggled to get on 
in the world during the trying times in which they lived. That 
they were not born with silver spoons in their mouths is sure, to 
make use of a homely but forcible expression ; but that they were 
frugal, worked hard and early and late, had few luxuries, if any, 
except such as beneficent nature provided ; and that in the sternest 
sense they had to "earn their bread by the sweat of their brows," 
is also certain. The majority of the German emigrants were 
quite poor. Many were so poor that they were compelled to sell 
themselves, or they were sometimes sold compulsorily at public 
auction to the highest bidder, just as the blacks were sold in the 
days of their involuntary servitude, for a term of service lasting 
from three to seven or more years, the price depending upon their 
age, the value of their service, and the amount necessary to pay 
for their passage and other incidental expenses. These people 
were known as "Redemptioners." Robert Sutcliff, an English 
Quaker who traveled upwards of ten thousand miles in the Middle 
States, mainly on horseback, in the years 1804, "05 and "06. in the 
interesting narrative of his journeys pays this tribute to this class 
of Germans: "I noticed manv families, particularlv in Penn- 
sylvania, of great respectability both in our Society and amongst 
others, who had themselves come over to this country as Redemp- 
tioners, or were the children of such. And it is remarkable that 
the German residents in this country have a character for greater 
industry and stability than those of any other nation." This is 
high praise from an Englishman. 

For further information relating to the Redemptioners the 
reader is referred to my iVotc and T/icii, A'ol. 3. pp. 61 and (/'). 
T have the original Indenture of a ( lerman and his wife, made in 
April, 1788, by which they sold themselves iiUo service for a term 
of four years, the consideration being thirt\- ])nunds and ten shill- 
ings, paid for their freight froiu RiUterdani ami their living and 



2.2 The Gernhardt Family History. 

clothing" (luring the period of bondage, and at the expiration of 
the term i6 Spanish dollars each in lieu of new suits, the further 
sum of lo pounds and lo shillings specie, a cow with calf, and a 
sow with pigs. This couple never became rich, but lived man}- 
years afterward in the community where they had served, were 
useful and respected citizens, and their descendants are worthy 
people. The affluent Englishman who bought them in time suf- 
fered iinancial misfortune, and some of his descendants became 
almost as indigent as the score or more of Redemptioners who 
had sold themselves or were sold into his service. But, what 
matters this if 

"Affliction is the wholesome soil of virtue; 
Where patience, honour, sweet humanity, 
Calm fortitude, take root and strongly flourish ! ' ' 

( )ur ancestor is supposed to have had something to begin 
with, and it required only a small sum for a diligent man with a 
strong heart to secure a piece of good land then, and — find a will- 
ing wife to help him to improve it. They prospered after years 
of privation and faithful toil. I have not been able to learn 
where Heinrich found his gutcii frait Rosine. The story of their 
courtship and domestic life would now be extremely interesting 
to his descendants, but, alas, it is forever buried with them. It 
may be imagined, however — having but few facts of personal his- 
tory I must beg to be allowed to indulge the imaginative faculty — 
that Heinrich had not far to go to woo her whom he loved, as 
there were settlers by the name of Fetterman then living not far 
away, in Northampton County. In the list of assessments of 
Macungie Township (a part of Lehigh County since 1812), made 
by the commissioners at Easton, December 27th, 1781, we found 
the name of George Fetterman. Was he a relative of Rosine? 
And among the early settlers of Milford Township (also now a 
province of Lehigh County) there was a Balthaser Vetterman 
(alias Baltzer Fetterman), to whom a land warrant for fifty-two 
acres of land was issued August 14th, 1752. In the assessment 
list of the taxable citizens of Milford Township, dated December 
27th, 1781, twent\-nine years later, appear the names of Balzer 



The Gcvnhardt l-'aniily History. 23 

Fetterman and George Fetterniaii. Alight not Baltzer (or Bal- 
zer) have lieen Rosine's fallier. and ( ieorge a brother? A (jues- 
tion, merely ! 

And what personal pr()])crt\- did Ivosinc at her marriage bring 
to Heinrich's slender estate? We ean only refer to the custom 
of that daw and guess. l\\ turning l)ack to Heinrich's will and 
taking note of what Rosine's own daughters received as their 
marriage portion, we mav infer that she was fortunate if she too 
had received "a bed and bedding, and what lielongs thereto, and 
a cow." We are not absolutely guessing. And this we know% 
our ancestors were humble Germans, and no class of foreigners 
made better citizens, and none were more industrious, and none in 
time l)ecame more thrifty. .Vnd this also is true, that in no other 
class of people who came to this broad and free land to better 
their condition was the love and sentiment of home and family, 
and of their adopted country, stronger. 

OUR ANCESTORS IN EUROPE. 

It would be a source of satisfaction to describe even the place 
of Heinrich's nativity, if we cannot trace back his ancestry. The 
famed region of the Upper Rhine, and the valley of the river 
Neckar, in the lower part of Germany, f(^rmerly an independent 
state — part of it now forms the northern section of Bavaria — com- 
monly known as the Palatinate, is the land from which the Ger- 
man settlers of Eastern Penns) Ivania chietlv emigrated, and 1 be- 
lieve that our ancestor also came from this section of the / 'atcr- 
land. The Palatinate was for centuries the scene of many ter- 
rible contlicts. and the battlefield of some of Europe's most san- 
guinary wars. The inhabitants were time and again the hapless 
victims of the most savage cruelty. The whole couutr\-. history 
says, was sometimes pillaged and completely desolated. In the 
autmnn of one year, 1688, the I'rench murdered more than one 
hundred thousand of its people, and laid its villages and towns 
in ashes. These invasions and atrocities, and the t\-rann\- of its 
rulers, constituted one of the main causes of the extensiw Palati- 
nate emigration to the colonies in America. These Palatines 



24 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

were in fact voluntary exiles from fierce religious persecutions 
and unendurable political oppression. 

How did our more remote ancestors fare in such direful times, 
and did they with their fellow-countrymen perform heroic but un- 
availing deeds in defense of their homes and families ? We know 
not, and can only guess and ponder. It was in 1750, when Hein- 
rich was a lad perhaps just old enough to realize some of the 
horrors of war, that hostilities broke out between Prussia and 
Austria, involving France and England, and the ill-fated Palati- 
nate was again overrun and became the dismal scene of wasteful 
camps and battles. Only ten years before this, in 1740, probably 
about the time when Heinrich first breathed the breath of life, a 
general European war began that lasted for eight years, and 
raged back and forth over the ill-starred territory of the Palati- 
nate. The troubled inhabitants had hardly time enough to re- 
cover from the calamities of one war, before they became involved 
in the horrors of another. It was during the war of the Spanish 
succession, which began in the time of Heinrich's parents, or 
grandparents, in 1701, and lasted about twelve years, when the 
Palatinate was overrun by contending armies, that the tide of emi- 
' gration to America set in so extensively that it came to be re- 
garded as almost a national craze. Heinrich a few years later 
simply followed in the wake of the tens of thousands of his covm- 
trymen, perhaps followed relatives or some esteemed acquaint- 
ances, to the land that offered so promising an asylum to the poor 
and oppressed. But we cannot lift the dense curtain that hides 
from us the secrets of our remote European ancestors, and we 
must be content to confine our study to our American history and 
genealogy. 

But, if we even could follow Heinrich back to his place of 
birth, and trace the Gernhardt blood back a dozen generations, 
would this satisfy us ? Would we not then have the same never 
satiated curiosity to trace our kindred still further back, back 
down through the Dark Ages, back down through the ages when 
the German tribes came into frequent conflict with the haughty 
Romans, back even to the very beginning of the Christian era? 



The GcrnJiardt Paniily History. 25 

Would we not then have the curiosity to know from what primi- 
tive tribe or stock we emanated? \\'ould we not then be just as 
inquisitive to know what our ancestors were Hke, and what they 
did in pre-historic times, even far back in the Age of Stone? Nay, 
would not some of the still more inquisitive wish to go on back, 
back, way back, expecting sometime actually to find a savage 
ancestor covered all over wdth long hair, and with a low retreat- 
ing forehead and unprepossessing physiognomy, and even a pre- 
hensile caudal appendage, just like a monkey? Don't be ap- 
palled, dear reader ! \\'e do not trifle in saying this. This is 
not levity. Why it is a stern fact that philosophers, scientists and 
eminent and pious divines all over the civilized world are now 
busy trying to persuade themselves and all the rest of mankind 
that such is really man's lowly origin ; that instead of having" 
fallen from a state of perfection, he has been slowly dilTerentiated 
or evolved from the lowest form of life ; and that he has from the 
start been, and still is, moving on upward in the scale of both phy- 
sical and psychical development. There is at least some comfort 
in this, if it is true. That is, if it so be that we have not fallen, 
we have at least risen. The Gernhardts, looking at it in this way, 
are not of more humble origin than any of their neighbors, and 
they have just the same right, capacity, incentive and opportunity 
to get up higher. After all, what's in a name, or in a title, or in 
family, in this free democratic land! Did net our American fore- 
fathers wisely decide and declare that ALL INIEN are created 
free and equal, and that they are endowed by their Creator with 
the same natural rights? In a word, what is it that constitutes 
true manhood ? Is it not true that wc are all of "one blood," and 
that 

"By birth alone the navie descends; 
Your honor on yourself depends?" 

THE NEW WORLD LIFE. 

Let US in imagination come down to the more recent time of 
Heinrich's settlement in the forest of Northampton County, when 
and where he estalilished himself several miles back of the river, 
near the banks of which the first emigrants had located. Lehigh 



26 TJic Gcrnhardt Family History. 



Township comprises the western end or corner of the county as it 
now exists. Its present (the township's) metes and bounds were 
fixed in 1765, the year of our ancestor's arrival. It is south and 
east of the Bkie Mountain, against which it buts, and which, with 
its lofty and almost uniform summit, forms a pleasing view from 
all parts of the domain. It is bounded on the north by Carbon 
County, on the east by Moore Township, on the south by Allen, 
and on the west by the Lehigh River. The territory was once 
known as "The Indian Land," as Thomas Penn, the Proprietary, 
in 1735 had it surveyed with the idea of making it a reservation 
for the Indians who were then still lingering in the triangular 
tract known as the "Forks of the Delaware;" but the 
project was not carried out, and the lands soon there- 
after began to pass into the possession of white set- 
tlers. The county of Northampton was erected by Act of 
Assembly in March, 1752, only thirteen years before Hein- 
rich came to the Province of the Penns. At the extreme western 
border or corner of the township the Lehigh River passes through 
the Blue Mountains in a deep gap, the high sides of the broken 
ridge facing the river rising almost perpendicularly, and the whole 
surroundings combining to form one of Pennsylvania's most beau- 
tiful and charming scenes. The Indians called the gap Buc/i-ka- 
btich-ka, which the historian Hecke welder says meant "mountains 
butting opposite to each other." How often the eyes and thoughts 
of Heinrich and Rosine and their children must have been fixed 
on this romantic spot, and on the long stretch of the stately moun- 
tain, every day in the field of their vision. Another deep gap of 
most singular physiographical interest, a perfect riddle to the spec- 
ulative geologist, and also in full view from about all parts of the 
township, is the Wind Gap, called by the Germans Dc Wind 
Kaft, through which no stream flows, but over the 
thoroughfare that passes through which in former times 
there was a vast amount of teaming and travel. It was 
through this gap that the main division of General Sullivan's 
army of 5,000 marched on the 19th day of June, 1779, when 
it set out to invade the country and break the power of the formid- 



The Gcrnliardt Family History. 27 

able Iroquois Confederacy, after having encamped along the road 
the previous night in Lehigh Township. \A'c may imagine that 
Heinrich and his neighbors — and perhaps Rosine, with nearly 
three months old little Thilip in her arms — came to look upon this 
army of war, which it was doubtless well known had for some 
days been forming at near-by Easton, the county town. But our 
hard-working ancestors of Lehigh Township never for one mo- 
ment dreamed that a centur\- or more later they themselves would 
have an anu\ of descendants born and living in peace and pros- 
perity in the fertile and beautiful region of New York, called the 
"Long House," then occupied by the dreaded savages who had 
perpetrated such cruelties on the settlers along the borders, and 
whom these well armed and determined men under Sullivan were 
about to visit and punish so effectually. But such is life! "Fate 
is above us all !" 

The custom was, that when the pioneer had selected a piece of 
unoccupied land that suited him, he immediately made application 
to the proper officer of the Proprietary government for a war- 
rant, after which the tract was surveyed for him, and a 
draft thereof made. Then, to get lawful possession he 
had to pay a speciiied per centum of the price down ; 
which, at the time our ancestor made his application for 
his 157 acres, had been advanced to twenty-two dollars and 
twenty-two cents per hundred acres ; so that, according to this, 
his preliminary payment was about thirty-five dollars. He then 
had acquired a presumptive title, and could without molestation 
enjoy and improve the land as if it were already all his own. 
After this he could also have plenty of time to pa}- the balance of 
the purchase money, and get a deed-patent to acquire the complete 
right and title, so thai he could himself make a deed in case he 
wished to sell. In tlu' meantime all he was required to pay was a 
yearly tax of one-half-pcim\- for each acre of the tract, which in 
Heinrich's case was therefore only about 78 cents. This was done 
by the Proprietary government to encourage emigrants to come 
and improve the Province. 

How long our ancestor thus enjoyed possession of his land and 



28 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

paid his annual tax of a few shillings before he (in 1790) ob- 
tained his patent, we did not find it convenient to search the 
records to learn, but it may be imagined that he must have ap- 
plied for the preliminary warrant before, or about the time, he was 
married. I happen to know that Nicolas Saeger — who was the 
maternal great-grandfather of my wife, Louise S. Gernerd — (ob- 
tained a warrant in 1737 for several hundred acres on Coplay 
Creek, only about ten miles south of my great-grandfather Hein- 
rich's tract, and that he did not apply for and receive his deed- 
patent until in 1762, a full quarter of a century after he had se- 
cured possession. Great-grandfather Gernhardt had no need to 
hurry, therefore, to get his title from the government, and might 
have settled on the tract almost directly after he became a colonist, 
twenty-five years before. The patent, we may here note, was 
granted to him as Henry Garnet — another instance of "worse 
spelling" than writing. 

If we know nothing of the personal experiences and circum- 
stances of Heinrich and Rosine during their many years of do- 
mestic life in Northampton, we at least know something of the 
customs and conditions of that period. It then meant the hardest 
kind of work to make a farm. The wilderness had to be subdued, 
as every rod of good vacant land was heavily covered with the 
primitive forest. Only here and there was there a clearing one 
hundred and thirty-five years ago, even on the first occupied tracts 
of land. Farm-life was one continuous drudgery. The early set- 
tlers had few comforts and conveniences, and knew little of labor- 
saving machiner}^ To have a horse, wagon, plow, one or two 
cows, a saw, axe, a few tools, as augers, a draw-knife, square, etc., 
and a hundred broad acres, more or less, made the stout-hearted 
and ready-handed German pioneer feel as independent and con- 
tented as the most flourishing farmers are now with all their 
cleared lands and modern conveniences. There was freedom and 
novelty and pleasure in their new life, and they rejoiced whenever 
they thought of the restraints and despotism from which thev had 
escaped. They were now in a land of promise and opportunity, 
where they could make themselves comfortable homes. They did 



T]ic Gcrnhardt Fainily / lisfory. 29 

not wish for things of which they had no knowledge, and thc\' chd 
not see their effects and surrouncHngs as we regard them now. 
Though none of ns may wish to H\c and struggle as they did, yet 
we must admit that in a broad sense the\' were just as happy as 
we are now. 

The first act of our forefather after he had made a sufficient 
clearing on his claim doubtless was to construct a cal)in of logs, 
and to fill up the interstices with sticks and mud. The floor, if not 
at first merely of clay pounded down smooth and hard, was proha- 
bly made of hewn plank, and the roof may even have been thatched 
with long straw, but later on laid with boards or split shingles, 
and the heavy doors were hung on big wooden hinges. There 
were probably two rooms on the ground floor, and a half-story loft 
above, where the children slept when old enough to climb up the 
stairs, or ladder. In the kitchen, in the partition wall, we think 
we see an immense fire-place, constructed in a massive stone chim- 
ney, wdiere the cooking was done, and, if it could be had, a swing- 
ing iron crane from which to suspend the kettles over the fire. 
The fire was produced with steel, flint and punk, as matches were 
then not vet invented. Until prepared to make tallow candles, 
they burnt hog's lard, or the fat of some wild animals, in little 
boat-shaped iron or tin lamps ; or perhaps at first used pitch-pine 
knots and splinters to make light. But they did not want light 
very long, as they had no daily papers to read, and the general 
habit was to retire early, and enjoy sound and refreshing sleep 
after working hard all day. For sweeping Rt)sine had splint- 
brooms made of hickory saplings. For cofi'ee they substituted 
roasted beech nuts, chestnuts, peas, rye, or corn. Xo time was 
lost in planting an orchard, and as soon as ihcy had apples then 
came the greatly esteemed luxury of cider, a])ple-butter, dried 
apples, apple pie, and — foolish Esau, to give his birthright for a 
beef-steak, if he could have had — "Schnits and Knei^p." 

There were various other victuals that the ( iernian emigrants 
had been accustomed to in the I'adcrlamf that they soon provided 
themselves here. "Sauerkraut," for instance, was regarded as 
being very nearly one of the necessities of life. People of other 



30 The Gcriihardt Family History. 

nationalities were wont to turn up their noses when they smeh of 
it, or even sometimes when it was mentioned, — we think Horace 
Greelv once contemptuously termed it pickled manure, — ^but it is 
now becoming a very respectable dish, and is quite in demand 
among- the refined of other races. It is often pronounced un- 
wholesome, but we have frequently known invalids crave it and 
eat it freely and feel comfortable, when other food would distress 
them. And there is "Pan-Haas" (in English, "Scrapple," or, as 
often called, "Pan-Rabbit"), a favorite dish in every Ger- 
man household, and now eaten by almost everybody. And who, 
that knows what is good, don't like "Smear-Case!" Indeed, 
there are many other things that other people have learned from 
the provident and straightforward Germans. And I imagine 
that Mother Rosin e — I just now think I can see her at work ni 
her humble cabin, a stout, healthy, rosy-cheeked, kind-hearted 
woman — was an excellent cook, and a good, cleanly housekeeper, 
as this is exactly what the majority of German women were, and 
now are. 

The furniture of our ancestors was doubtless at first of the sim- 
plest descrption, most of it very likely made by Heinrich himself. 
A great-granddaughter now living in Lehigh County has a rock- 
ing-chair that she says her father willed to her as the chair made 
by his grandfather (Heinrich), and this is unquestionable evi- 
dence that our forefather possessed considerable mechanical apt- 
ness. Later on, as prosperity permitted, and the family increased, 
various unpretentious conveniences were added to the household 
outfit. What an event in their plain, simple and economical do- 
mestic life when they became the happy possessors of a stove ! 
Think of it ! A stove ! And no doubt it was one of the old- 
fashioned ten-plate stoves, invented by the philosophic Benjamin 
Franklin, who — as has so often happened — married the girl that 
at first made fun of him. And what would dear old Mother 
Rosine think if she were to wake up out of her last long sleep 
and see the latest improved cooking stoves and ranges, the con- 
venient extension tables, the elegant side-boards, cushioned chairs, 
superli chamber suits, grand carpets, lace curtains, as well as the 



Tlic Gcnt/ianit Faiiiily History. 31 

organs and pianos, that many of her numerous descendants have 
now? And what would she say, if she stood there in her cahin 
door as of old, in her gown made of flax, and harefooted, even if 
it were on a cool autumn day, and saw a whole train of her female 
descendants coming to pay her their respects, dressed in elegant 
skirts, handsome coats, exquisite furs and muffs, patent leather 
shoes and "loves of bonnets," now so common? It was still after 
her day in Northampton County that ladies, real ladies we have 
been told, would wear silk dresses (when they could afford it), 
and walk miles to church and carry their shoes, and then, to ap- 
pear more presentable, or respectable, or fashionable, but hardly 
more comfortable, just before reaching the place of worship put ' 
their shoes on their feet. The shoemakers then often traveled 
from house to house to make and mend shoes ; and, because the 
shoes were well made, of honest leather, and were tenderly taken 
care of, would last a long time. This reminds me that I once 
saw a Pennsylvania German have on a pair of calf-skin boots 
that he had then been wearing for forty-three years. They were 
his wedding boots, and were, of course, only worn at "dress- 
parade." 

And what would contented Heinrich think, with his rude plow 
made of hard wood, harness made of rawhide and rope, clumsy 
hand-made forks and hoes, hickory flails, and his "Dutch scythe" 
and reaping-hook, if he saw the mowers, reapers and binders, 
corn-planters and corn-shellers, sulky plows ami steam threshers, 
and the many other improvements that farmers have now ? We 
woidd all like to hear him express his mind. \\ hat changes indeed 
since the days of our first German ancestors. \\q can now but 
imperfectly realize how they lived and managed to get along in 
the world. How glad all \vt)uld ])e to have a series of photo- 
grai)hic views of Heinrich and Rosine, their children, their home, 
their effects and surroundings, to illustrate this little volume. 
But there were no cameras and kodaks then. The "wonderful 
century, ' with its almost countless discoveries, iuNxiitions and im- 
provements, was for us to have the advantage of and not t'or them. 
The population of the land they atlo])ted has not onl\- increased 



32 The Gcnihardt Family History. 



far beyond their expectations, but the changes in the mode of Uv- 
i,-ig_farming, building, clothing, furniture, traveling, transporta- 
tion, heating, lighting, education, recreation, even preaching, doc- 
toring, and burving — are just as great. This would now almost 
seem to them like a new world. Of course, they would soon per- 
ceive that it is still the same old world of sin and sorrow, pain and 
sickness, vanity and weakness, vice and crime, and infirmity and 

death. 

"Man is a child of sorrow, and this world 
In which we breathe hath cares enoiigh to plague us; 
But it hath means withal to soothe those cares; 
And he who meditates on others' woes 
Shall in that meditation lose his own." 

The descendant-reader doubtless feels like lingering at Hein- 
rich's and Rosine's forest home, and will regret that no one can 
tell them more about it. According to the history of early times 
every settler in the woods had frequent use for a gun, and would 
have a smooth-bore for ball or shot as soon as it was possible to 
acquire one. The forest abounded with game, that at times con- 
stituted an important part of the settlers' living, and so, of course, 
Heinrich had a gun. Wild pigeons were so plenty that they could 
sometimes be brought down with stones, or even with a club. 
The flocks were often so immense that they were like moving 
clouds. Wild turkeys were numerous, and often large and fat, 
weighing 30, and sometimes more than 40 pounds. Ducks and 
pheasants were even more common. Squirrels, as well as crows 
and blackbirds, were so common and destructive that it was for 
years a serious question how to get rid of them. Deer were also 
very pernicious, often coming to the fields in herds to brouse on 
crops thai the needy settler could not well spare. It was then no 
bvagging matter to shoot a deer. When a sportsman in this part 
of the world shoots one now, he imagines himself a hero, and he 
wants his friends to hear of his wonderful performance. If a re- 
porter is at hand the feat is sure to be mentioned in the daily 
paper. Hawks, foxes, wolves and bears in Heinrich's time were 
also yet so common and bold that poultry, sheep and pig raising 
required more or less vigilance. We may conclude, therefore, 



The Cicrnliardt Fainilx History. • 33 



that he always had his qun handy and loaded, and that he learned 
to handle it eilectively. 

At the period of his settlement the Indians had forever passed 
far beyond the Blue ^lountain as a people, but a lingering at- 
tachment led some of them now and then to make friendly visits 
to the white settlements and scenes of their former glory and 
happ\- days, and to dispose of their peltry to the more provident 
and thriving whites. Lehigh Township had. with the surround- 
ing districts, suffered severely in times so recent from Indian 
forays, compelling the frightened settlers to seek safety in flight 
to Bethlehem, Nazareth and Easton, that the savage war-cry was 
still perhaps sounding in some alertful ears. The last serious in- 
road of the merciless warriors was in 1763, only two years before 
Heinrich's advent, wdien a number of atrocities and murders were 
committed, which sad events were therefore still fresh in the 
minds of the people, so that no doubt painful apprehensions were 
sometimes yet felt that the revengeful foe might come stealing 
down over the mountain again on the old warpath, and especially 
when, in 1778 and 1779, they heard of the frightful massacre at 
Wyoming, and along both branches of the Susquehanna. We can 
imagine that the older settlers used to tell our ancestor-couple of 
the cruelty and treachery of the red sons of the forest, how they 
had more than once to forsake their homes and crops to save their 
lives, so that when he saw one of the race with a tomahawk in his 
belt he began to wonder if his scalp-lock would ever be wanted. 
It is stated on page 327 of \^ol. 12 of the Pennsylvania Archives, 
First Series, that as late as 1780 — when Heinrich already had a 
family of four little children to i)rotcct — a force of i i -' men had 
to be stationed at h'ort Allen, where the town of W'eissport now 
stands, on the Lehigh River, only a few miles west of the Blue 
?\lountain : and in ihe history of Carbon County it is recorded that 
in the same \ear the Indians perpetrated some murders in the 
section just north of the ridge. 

Till'; WAR Of Till'. Ri-:\'OLUTION. 

Heinrich came to the I'rovince of the Penns a full decade be- 
fore the beginning of the War of the Revolution, and did not then 



34 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

realize that other evil and even darker days were ere long to come 
upon the youthful colonies. But the causes that finally led to the 
long and dreadful clash of arms between the white brothers were 
then already at work. It was the same year (1765) in which he 
became a citizen, by his solemn oath and residence, that both 
houses of Parliament, with but slight opposition, passed the odious 
Stamp Act; which decided that all such instruments of writing 
as deeds, bonds, and notes were illegal and void if not executed 
on stamped paper, on which a duty must be paid to the mother 
country. It is true, Parliament repealed the act the following 
year, because of the intense excitement and opposition it raised 
in America ; but unfortunately in its place followed an even more 
irritating enactment known as the Declaratory Act, which in- 
sisted "that Parliament have, and of right ought to have, power 
to bind the colonies in all cases zchatsoever." The touchy colon- 
ists did not believe in being bound hand and foot in all cases what- 
soever, and taxed without proper representation, and without their 
own consent, and this may be regarded as the primary cause of 
the Revolution. 

We must pass over the anxious days of earnest and more or 
less bitter — not always bloodless, as some serious riots took place 
— contention as to rights and duty, to the time of actual, open con- 
flict, which was at last precipitated in spite of the fact that many on 
both sides urged moderation and forbearance. His irate Majesty, 
King George the Third (and his Parliament), did not heed the 
respectful yet firm remonstrances forwarded to him from time 
to time, but now sternly treated the aggrieved subjects as ungrate- 
ful rebels, and sent over an army to* compel submission with 
sword, bullet and bayonet. By this time the public mind through- 
out the colonies was fully awake to the inevitability of "cruel 
war," and preparations to meet force with force were immedi- 
ately commenced. The reader will remember reading in his 
school history how on the i8th day of April, 1775, a force of eight 
hundred of the King's grenadiers and light infantry marched to 
Lexington and Concord to destroy some military stores gathered 
there, and how that, after they had fired upon the citizens of Lex- 



TJic Gcrn/ianlt Family J fist or y. 35 



ington who were assembled on tlic public square, and killed eight 
of them, they were then themselves fired upon by the Americans 
with such impetuosity, and beaten, that thc\- marched back to Bos- 
ton with a loss in killed and wounded and prisoners of more than 
one-third of their force. Tt will Ijc remembered how this affair 
aroused the colonists to the highest pitch of indignation, and at 
once brought on the war. It will also be remembered how a Brit- 
ish force of three thousand men, about two months later, under- 
took to disperse the Americans from Bunker's Hill and were 
twice repulsed, and then how General Clinton came u]i with a rein- 
forcement, and how — the powder of the Americans having become 
exhausted — the redoubt was finally carried, though at great cost 
to the British. A^igorous measures were now taken by both sides 
to fight it out, and an era of gloom, uncertainty, destitution, car- 
nage and suft'ering followed that put the valor and patriotism of 
the colonists to the severest test. 

The immigration of the Germans to Pennsylvania had been 
so great, that at the period of the Revolution their number made 
them an important element in the cause of independence. When 
the revolt of the colonies came they were at once all on the side 
of freedom. Four days after Independence was declared at Phil- 
adelphia the citizens of Easton and the country surrounding 
hailed the news by a great street demonstration, after which they 
marched to the Court House and heard the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence read. Capt. Nagel's company of "Berks County Dutch- 
men" was part of the first contingent of outside colonists who 
came to ihe support of the New Englanders after the battle of 
Bunker's Hill. Our humble ancestor up the Lehigh, near the foot 
of the lUue Mountain, doubtless soon heard the soul-stirring news, 
and was at once in sympathy \vith the spirit and aim of the Revo- 
lution, though he i:'rtjbably never carried a nnisket even as a mili- 
tiaman or "Associator." He had a wife and several small chil- 
dren to care for, and his circumstances were such that he may 
have thought he could do his adopted coimtr\- the best service by 
helping to raise food for the army. And perhaps he feared to 
leave his family on account of the Indians, who seemed ready 



36 . The GernJiardt Family History. 



any hour to rush down upon the for the most part unprotected 
inhabitants. Not every man could nor did leave his farm, or 
workshop, or mill. Amona: the contingent of supplies at one 
time assessed by the Supreme Executive Council to Northampton 
County was 500 barrels of flour and 1,000 l)ushels of forage 
every month, and this, of course, required an effective force to 
serve in the quiet fields at heme. We would all be glad to know 
just how Heinrich and Rosme felt, and just what they said and 
did as they from time to time heard of Indian atrocities, and of 
the fearful struggle for freedom against a despotism that, as 
the Declaration of Independence declared, "has plundered our 
seas, ravaged our coasts, burnt our towns, and destroyed the lives 
of our people," and was guilty of other "repeated injuries and 
usurpations," but we can only surmise how they were affected 
by transpiring events and what they did and thought. 

In the description of his land in the deed our Northampton 
forefather gave to George Ensle, in April, 1795, some of the con- 
tiguous tracts were in the names of Conrad Laufer, Jacob Walp, 
Conrad Kreider, Philip Heiney, Henry Piegle and Adam Dieter. 
Several or most of these land-owners may have resided else- 
where. Conrad Kreider, it appears, was not one of his nearest 
neighbors, as he lived a few miles south of him, in Allen, Town- 
ship. By reference to Vol. VIII of the Pennsylvania Archives 
we find that Conrad Kreider was the Wagon Master General of 
Northampton County during the war* Northampton was at that 
time still a large territory, having as yet only contributed (with 
Berks, Lancaster, Cumberland, and Bedford), to the erection of 
one county, viz., Northumberland in 1772. Its area was after- 
wards greatly reduced by further concessions of territory in the 



* After "writing the above I learned (irDm the letter of .John Arndt, on page 
421 of Vol. 5 of the Penn'a Archives) that Conrad Kreider was appointed 
"Waggon Master (General" by the .Justices of Northampton County, assembled 
at the town of Northampton (now the city of Allentown), on the 26th day of 
June, 1777, in pursuance of a plan recommended by the Supreme Executive 
Council of the State. At a meeting of the .Justices on the 5th day of .July fol- 
lowing W. M. General Kreider reported that the number of wagons then in the 
county was five hundred and fifty. The wagons were then divided into 
brigades, and lots were ordered to be cast to decide which brigades should 
answer General Kreider's call first. 



Tlic Cicrnliavdt family History. 37 



formation of Wayne in 1798, of Schnxlkill in 181 1, of Lehij^h in 
1812, of Monroe in 1836, and Carbon in 1843. ^^^ ^'''^''c ^c- 
prodnce from the Archives two of W. M. General Kreider's let- 
ters addressed to His Excellency, Joseph Reed, President of the 
Supreme Executive Council of the State of Pennsylvania, which 
are of special interest, because showing the distressed state of the 
country at the time Heinrich was cutting down forest trees, grul)- 
bing out roots, burning brush, ]ilowing around stumps, chasing 
away crows and blackbirds, cutting grain with a sickle, threshing 
grain with a flail, and perhaps sometimes, when bad news came, 
feeling discouraged, and wondering if he really had ccjme to a land 
of peace and safety and independence : 

Allen Township, Northampton County, July the 22d, 1780. 
]\Iay it please your Worship : 

I Received the orders from the 24th of June last, to make up 
thirty Teams in this County of Northampton, to send to our 
Army, which Teams I Expected to make up in a short time but 
finding myself very much disappointed by the utmost of m\' 
Exertion and taking all Methods in ni}- Power \'iz. first I sent 
all my Deputies to make up such a Number of Teams according 
to the strength of their Districts -without fail and to bring in a true 
account of all those who had not taken the Oath of Alegiance, 
but they got only three Teams in the whole County by that 
Method, Secondly I send 10 all my Deputies again to Warn the 
Farmers all in their Districts to meet on a certain da}' and each 
Townshi]:) to make up so many Teams required to make up the 
above Mentioned Number but getting none. Thirdly I send to 
all those who had not taken the Oath to take their Horses ^^'ag- 
gons and gears by force saving two Horses on each Plantation, 
and got .but eight Teams in all by that Method, for on the most 
Plantations Especially of Disaffected People is only two Horses, 
and with the said eight Teams T had very nnich Trouble and Cost, 
for I was oblidged to have their Waggons repaired all their Plorses 
shot and fodder found for all from the beginning and was oblidged 
to inlist Drivers for said 8 Teams, and to ])ay each one ^Tonth 
Wages down and to Promise the Residue as soon as thev ret'urn 
and was ol)lidged to furnish the Waggon ^Taster with ^^loney to 
supply the wants of said Teams on the Road, which I did with 
my Money, and send the Teams ofi' last week l^levcu in Xuml)er. 



38 Tlic GcrnJiardt Family History. 

likewise ihe Militia which Assisted by taking said Eight Teams I 
was oblidged to Promise Reasonable Wages and did pay some. 

Further I must acquaint the Honorable the Council about the 
Deputies under me that I can get none in my District to act any 
more for me in such Business, Their Excuse and Complain is of 
their service they have done last year, and having not received as 
yet their Wages and what the}' had due was too little and will not 
serve any more without having first Received what they had due, 
and then to know a certainty what Wages is to be after, sO' like- 
wise all the Farmers have the same Excuse and Complain. I 
hope you will take this into Consideration and furnish me with 
Money so as I may Perform my promise for it is not Possible for 
me to get any Teams to go without Money. 

I am your most Obedient 

Humble Servant, 
1 Conrad Kryder, 

W. M. Gen'l. 
Directed, 

To the Honorable the President and Council in the State of 
Pennsylvania. 

At the meeting of the President and Council, three days after 
the date of the above letter of complaints, the following item — see 
Colonial Records, Vol. 12, page 431^ — was entered in the minutes 
of the proceedings : 

"An order was drawn on the Treasurer in favor of Mr. Con- 
rad Kreider, Waggon Master of the county of Northampton, for 
the sum of two thousand pounds Continental money, and also the 
amount of other two thousand pounds, to be paid in State money, 
at the rate of sixty for one, for expences in calling out waggons 
from said county, agreeable to a late order of this Board." 

At the same session of the Executive Council it was resolved 
to forward further orders to the Wagon Masters of the then eight 
counties of the State, and urge them to act in the most vigorous 
manner in the performance of their duties. The following, one 
of the resolutions, shows how necessary it must have been that 
the army be furnished with teams : 

"Resolved, That in case of difficulty or delay in making up 
the said teams, the said Waggon Masters and their Deputies do 



T]ic Gcnihardt Faniilv Ilislorx. 39 



apply to the magistrates and officers of the militia for their assist- 
ance, and that they inii)ress any horses, waggons and gears, dis- 
tingnishing between such as have taken the oaths or affirmations 
of allegiance, and those who have not, and saving always to every 
plantation at least two working horses ; That the said horses, 
waggons and gears, be appraised on oath liy two persons, to be 
appointed as the Waggon Law directs, and a certificate given; 
That the Waggon Masters do, within one month, make a true re- 
turn to this Board of all horses, waggons and gears so taken, and 
also the prices affixed." 

In response to this the following letter was sent, bv Kreider, 
directed to the "Honorable the President & Council in Philadel- 
phia :" 

Allen Township, Northampton County, 

Aug'st 6, 1780. 
May it please your Worships, 

When I Received your orders to me from the 25th of July 
last for making up the Teams required in the orders of this County, 
and for Buying the one Hundred Horses, I began to Execute the 
orders immediately, but soon found that I could not get any by the 
directions I had, for the owners of Horses would set their own 
price. I then Notified all the Justices of the County to meet on 
the 5th of this month to Assist me. At the same time in Notfying 
the Justices a new demand came from his Excellency General 
Washington by Major Lee with a party of the light Dragoons, for 
one Hundred four Horse Teams and twenty-four Horses more, 
either to make them Voluntarily in a short time in this County, 
or, according to his orders, to Impress. He likewise (the said 
Major Lee) came to our meeting, and all the Justices of each 
Township in the County so notified met on the day appointed at 
the very hour, and unanimously undertook to make up the said 
one Hundred Teams and twenty-four Horses, laid a Quota on 
each Township for the same, and likewise for the one Hundred 
Horses above mentioned, and to have all the Teams to go this 
Week, and the twenty-four Horses. But to acquaint the Hon- 
ourable the President and Council about the Conductors which I 
must have to each r>rigade of Waggons and likewise to all llie 
said Plorses ; none will undertake to go without knowing a cer- 
tainty of wages what to have, and will not go without good wages. 
So likewise the drivers, of wdiich the most part 1 shall Ijc obliged 
to inlist and to pay one month advance ; and none of the Conduc- 



40 TJic Gcni/iardt Family Historv. 

tors will nor can go without some Money for the Suppl}' them- 
selves and the Teams in Necessary articles on the Road, and as I 
was acquainted that forrage was very scarce, and in the most 
places none to be had in the Jersey, I ordered each Team to take 
forrage for eight or ten days from home, for which they will have 
ready money paid down, ^^'hich Conductors, Drivers, forrage, 
Expresses will require a large sum of Money, for which the Sum 
I received last is too small, and for the order I received for Money 
at the Treasury at Easton I can get none yet as there is none 
there. I hope you will send me a good sum of Money as soon as 
may be, as I cannot act without, for which I w'ill honastly account 
in my Settlement. And to let me know what hire the Conductors 
and drivers is to have or I must undertake to set a price. Further 
would I be very glad to know whether our County is now ex- 
cused from giving the Teams required in the orders of the 25th of 
July last by sending oiT so many now ; further do I want fifty ser- 
tificates more at least, as I have received only fifty and shall want 
one Hundred. 

I am your most 

obedient Humble servant, 

Conrad Kreider, W. M. 
for Northampton County. 

Heinrich at the date of these war requisitions was hardly yet 
fairlv started in life. That is, it is not to be supposed that he was 
in as comfortable circumstances as many of his German country- 
men who had already been on the road to fortune ten to forty or 
more years before him. He was young, but he may have felt that 
he could neither' go into the service as a soldier or as a teamster. 
He now had four small children — the fifth, John, my grandfather, 
was born only a few weeks after the date of Kreider's last of the 
above letters — and for these helpless ones affection claimed that 
he must remain with and provide for them. He had no child yet 
that could help him on the farm. Like the poorer and more re- 
cent of the settlers, he probably had but one horse ; if he had two 
he was more fortunate, yet even then he was not subject to the 
order of the Executive Council, which considerately spared "to 
every plantation at least two working horses." And may he not 
for some years have done his work with a yoke of patient oxen ? 



Tl^c GcniJiardt Family History. 41 

The great difficulty of getting teams ; the fact that, as Kreider 
says, the teamsters had "no money to supply themselves with 
necessities," and the condition of the horses, which had to be 
shot ( !) and of the wagons, that had first to be made fit for ser- 
vice, shows how poorly many of the farmers were prepared for 
what was required of them. lUit it is a pleasure to note that when 
His Excellency, General George Washington, made a personal re- 
quisition for "one Hundred four Horse Teams and twenty-four 
Horses more,"" and sent Major Lee with a party of light dragoons 
to coin'iiicc them of the urgent need of the army, then the one 
hundred four-horse teams and twenty-four horses more were 
ready to go the same week yet, and without the disagreeable neces- 
sity of impressment. In these days of abundance and luxury, of 
marvelous improvements, and of the blessings of peace, we can- 
not easily realize how the inhabitants must have felt, what they 
endured, and what sacrifices they had to make in the dark and 
dubious days of the Revolution. But at least the Germans of 
Northampton seemed to have responded promptly, though it 
seems that the people of some sections did not, as three weeks 
after Kreider's second letter His Excellency, General Washing- 
ton, was obliged to write a very doleful letter from his head- 
quarters in Bergen County, X. J., to President Reed of the Execu- 
tive Council (See Penn'a Archives. \'ol. 8, page 525), concerning 
the "extremity of distress" to which the army was then again re- 
duced. After stating how sadly destitute his men were, and that 
it had been no inconsiderable support to their cause that they had 
so far respected the personal rights of the inhabitants, while the 
British troops had wantonly violated the same, the noble Com- 
mander-in-Chief proceeds to say : 

"From the above state of facts it may be foreseen that this army 
cannot possibl\- remain much longer together, unless very vigor- 
ous and immediate measures are taken by the States to comply 
with the requisitions madi' u])on them. The Commissar\- Gen- 
eral has neither the means nor the ])ower of procuring sup])lies. 
He is only to receive them from the several agents. Without a 
speedy change of circumstances, this dilemma must be involved; 
either the army must disband, or what is, if possible, worse, sub- 



42 The Gcnihardt Family History. 



sist upon the plunder of the People. I would fain flatter myself 
that a knowledge of our situation will produce the desired relief' — 
not a relief of a few days, as has generally heretofore been the 
case, but a supply equal to the establishment of magazines for the 
Winter. If these are not formed before the Roads are broken up by 
the Weather, we shall certainly experience the same difficulties 
and distress the ensuing Winter which we did the last. Altho' 
the troops have, upon every occasion hitherto, borne their wants 
with unparalleled patience, it will be dangerous to trust too often 
to a repetition of the causes of discontent." 

Such was the disheartening condition of the coimtry during 
•the early years of Heinrich's and Rosine's domestic life, when 
they were toiling hard and rearing their children in the lonely 
backwoods near the base of the Blue Mountain, with wild and un- 
occupied lands still nearly all around them. Fifteen years later, 
when they sold their place to George Ensle, two of its boundary 
lines were still along unseated lands. But the reader is now left 
to imagine by himself what life meant to them in their humble and 
solitary pioneer home, during the long and determined struggle 
for honor and independence. 

It may be well to add here that the greater portion of the most 
densely populated and the best improved section of Northampton 
County at this critical period lay south of the Lehigh River, and 
comprises what is now known as Lehigh County. A letter dated 
Allen town, Aug. 24, 1780, from David Deshler, Commissioner 
for Northampton County, to President Reed of the Executive 
Council, (See Penn'a Archives, Vol. 8, page 517,) says: "Be 
pleased to send me Fifty thousand pounds for the use of purchas- 
ing supplies for the army, without that article it is impossible for 
me to carry on the Business in the manner I could wish. I can 
purchase one hundred head of cattle in one week's time, if I was 
supplied with money for that purpose. I have the offer of five 
hundred Bushels of Wheat from one person, but cannot have it 
for want of money." Two days later, Aug. 26th, (See Colonial 
Records, Vol. 12, page 460,) the Council directed that an order be 
drawn for the sum of i 1,000, to Colonel David Deshler, for pur- 
chasing supplies for the army. Uncle Sam's credit and resources 



The Gernhardt Family History. 43 



have improved mightily since then, and also his facilities for doing 
business. 

THE INDIAN WALK. 

Heinrich's land was located just within or along the border 
of what is now known in history as "The Indian Walk," or 
"Walking Purchase of 1737." The purchase of 1682 made by 
\Mlliam Markham, the agent of William Pcnn, was to extend as 
far as a man could walk in three days. After walking one day 
and a half Penn thought that he had land enough (enough then 
at least), and thereupon a line was agreed upon. But ere long 
the land-covetous white settlers began to encroach more and more 
on the Indian domain, which made the aboriginal proprietors feel 
uiieasy, and realize that they must take some steps to protect them- 
selves. They reasonably insisted on a limit being fixed to the 
extension of settlement. Accordingly several treaties were held 
— one in 1734, one in 1735, and the final one in August, 1737 — ^by 
which it was at last agreed that the purchase of 1682 be confirmed. 
It was then assented that the question of territory should be de~ 
cided by another "walk ;" that the walk should take place in Sep- 
tember, 1737; that the starting point was to be at a certain chest- 
nut tree close to the northern border of the 1682 purchase, and 
near the sight of what is now Wrightstown, Bucks County ; that 
the start should be made at sunrise, and the finish be made at noon 
on the following day. To make all that was possible of the bar- 
gain, the Proprietary government chose three strong men, — Ed- 
ward Marshall, James Yeates, and Solomon Jennings, — who were 
all famous as great walkers, and incited them to do their utmost 
by agreeing to give them five ptnnids in mone\' and five hundred 
acres of land for their service. Sometime before the actual test 
an experimental walk had been made, to see how much land could 
thus be secured, and the trees along the route were blazed, to give 
the walkers the benefit of a chosen course. 

The walk was not fast at first, but ere long the walkers began 
to warm up and quickened their pace so much that the Indians 
who were with them as witnesses found it hard wcirk to keep up, 
and from time to time insisted that the walkers should "ivalk and 



44 Tlic Gcni/iardf Family History. 



not run." There was no. nse of their remonstrating, however, as 
there was no stipulation that the walk should be slow. The famous 
walkers had their reputations at stake, and this was still another 
incentive to make extraordinary effort. There was also consid- 
erable betting on them — it is said mostly in favor of Yeates — and 
probably they were also stimulated by oft'ers from the bettors. 
People gathered at some points along the route to see them pass. 
So it was of course predetermined to have a "heap walk," and 
get out of the bargain all that there was in it. Most of the In- 
dians became thoroughly disgusted, declared they were cheated, 
and walked away from the scene in sullen anger. A number of 
persons followed on horseback. We have not the space to repeat 
all the incidents we have found on record relating to this question- 
able feat of diplomacy, about which so much has been said and 
written. It was as unprofitable for two of the walkers as it was 
unsatisfactory to the outwitted Red Men. Jennings broke down 
the first day, and so injured himself by his severe exertion that 
he is said to have died from the effects several years after. Yeates 
gave out the next morning near the foot of the Blue Mountain 
(not far from the spot where Heinrich and Rosine afterward 
lived), and had so overtaxed himself that he was blind when 
picked up, and lived only three days. Marshall was in the rear 
for some time at the start, but at the noon hour when the walk 
•ended he was the champion walker and had reached a point be- 
yond the mountain nearly sixty-four miles from the place of start- 
ing — some have estimated the distance as high as eighty-six miles 
■ — and was doubtless very tired, but was evidently not injured, as 
he appears to have lived to a great age ; one writer says he died 
at seventy-nine, and another says he lived to be ninety years old. 

But after the 'walk came the most exasperating part of the 
transaction to the aggrieved Indians. From the northern termi- 
nus of the walk a line was to be drawn eastward to the Delaware 
River, and all the land south of this line, and between it and the 
river, was to be added to the former purchase and forever belong 
to the insatiable whites. The precise eastward course of this line 
was not specified in the deed, or contract, and therefore, instead 



Tin- Gcniliardt luiuiily History. 45 



of running it direct to the river, as the less artful Indians had 
expected, it was so defected to the north as to embrace almost 
twice as much land as they had calculated to convey. They at 
once saw the advantage that was taken of them, and fearlessly 
denounced the proceeding as an outrage. And they never forgot 
it. Nineteen years later (in 1756) it was the leading question at 
a council held in Easton, when they again insisted that the walk 
was not fairly conducted, that the Proprietaries had not dealt hon- 
estly with them, and that the line from the end of the walk should 
have been run to the nearest point on the river. This walk, the 
astute historian, Dr. William H. Egle, says, in his valuable His- 
tory of Pennsylvania, "was the cause of jealousies and heart- 
burnins:s among the Indians, which eventuallv broke out in loud 
complaints of injustice and atrocious acts of savage vengeance. 
The verv first murder committed by them after this transaction 
was on the very land they believed themselves cheated out of." 

The troubles with the Indians within the ddmain of the Walk- 
ing Purchase, of so large a portion of which they regarded them- 
selves as having been deliberately cheated, were, as already 
stated, about at an end when Heinrich commenced making a home 
in the wilderness within the line of the first day's walk ; but the 
settlers were still at times uneasy, as they knew the Indians had 
not ceased to lament the transaction of thirty years before, and 
thev trembled for their families when they heard of the fearful 
murders and devastation in the frontier settlements west and 
north of the Blue Mountain. During the War of the Revolution, 
when the disaffected Indians were urged on and sometimes even 
led l:)y British officers, the people living within the bounds of the 
Walking Purchase had reason enough for the gravest apprehen- 
sions. 

EXODUS FROM NORTHAMPTON. 

Why Heinrich was induced, after selling his place in Lehigh 
Township (1795), to move with his family about twenty-five or 
thirty miles southward along the eastern base of the Blue Moun- 
tain, to a section in Ik-rks CouiU\- that appears to have possessed 
no attractions greater than the neighlxirlKH);! lie left, no one now 



46 ' Tlic Gcniliardt Faniilv Histor\. 

living knows. Possibly some friend, or relative of his wife, in- 
fluenced him there. As it appears that he did not invest in real 
estate in that vicinage, it is surmised that he merely rented a 
place until he could make up his mind where to buy and settle 
permanently. 

Magdalena, the firstborn of the ten children, had already 
(1794) been married to Andrew Shafer, and had almost immedi- 
ately thereafter migrated to Northumberland County, as a bap- 
tismal record shows that her first child (Henry) was christened 
in Turbot Township on the 3rd day of April, 1795. Jacob, the 
eldest son, had just attained his majority, and he must very soon 
after have followed his sister Magdalena and her husband to the 
same section, as we find that it v/as not long after that he there 
gave his hand to a damsel (Miss Kramer), who we may surmise 
had got his heart at first sight. We all know how such things 
happen. George, their first child, was born in 1798. The upper 
end of Turbot Township (now Delaware) was almost entirely 
settled by Germans from Northampton and Berks Counties, and 
among them it is altogether probable that Heinrich and Rosine 
already had a number of other acquaintances. 

In the temporary home m Berks County, then, still lingering 
near the lofty ridge of the Blue Mountains, and still betimes hear- 
ing alluring reports of the fertile lands and beautiful valleys be- 
yond, Heinrich and Rosine for a time sojourned, and continued 
to toil, following day after day the same but slightly varied rou- 
tine of domestic life, their children. fast growing up, and one by 
one looking out into the great alluring world, doubtless gazing 
with wondering eyes over the Blue Ridge, and thinking and some- 
times even talking of leaving home to shift for themselves, as 
young birds when they have grown old, and strong enough to fly 
away from their parental nests. The third one to leave the 
parental fireside was John, the fifth-born, who made up his mind 
to be a chairmaker, and so he was accordingly indentured as an 
apprentice to one of that craft by the name of Karchner, who had 
a shop near Millerstcttlc (now the borough of Macungie), in 
Lower Macungie, since 1812 a part of Lehigh County. He finally 



The CcrnJiardt Family History. 47 



settled and spent the rest of his days in the township of Upper 
Macungie, and was the only one of the family who remained east 
of the Blue INIountain. 

The few years' sojourn in l)erks County passed quickly by — it 
is the universal experience that the years seem to grow shorter to 
man as he grows older — and Heinrich finally resolved to follow 
the tide of emigration that was steadily flowing from Northamp- 
ton and Berks westward beyond the Blue Ridge, behind which he 
and Rosine had together watched the sun nightly sink out of sight 
for more than thirt\- years, and whither the rest of the children 
now doubtless longed to go, since Magdalena and Jacob were 
already there. He was now about sixty years old, and in the 
time of life when the feelings and illusions of youth are being 
stripped somewhat of their dazzling hue, and when most men are 
disposed to act with greater caution. How often the words of 
the poet come true : 

"One by one younjj; feelings die, 
And dark doubts make us falter." 

By industry and severe economy — the Germans in the past 
were more inclined to make money by hard work and saving than 
bv investment and speculation — he had accumulated some means, 
and now longed to have a farm again that he could call his own. 
Seven of the children were still with him — Anna Elizabeth, Philip, 
Catharine, Margaret, Baltzer, Anna Maria, and Susanna. 

The family now packed up such of their household goods and 
l^elongings as they could conveniently transport over the moun- 
tains on wagons, and over such roads as they had in a new coun- 
try one hundred years ago, to make a new home on the tamous 
West Branch of the Susquehanna. Vendues were held in those 
days the Sc.me as now, and perhaps as many in proportion to popu- 
lation, so we may suppose that sundry effects were first disposed 
of by a public sale. Other families from the same section came 
to the new German settlement about the same time, and possibly 
one or more came in company with our ancestors. The Esbachs, 
for instance, came over the mountains from Northampton in 
April, 1805, also settling in Turbot Township. Baltzer Garnhart, 



48 Tlic Gcniliardt Family History. 

Heinrich's youngest son, not long- afterwards married Anna C. 
Esbach, who came here with her brothers. 

Heinrich may have come to the West Branch with several 
teams and wagons, but only one wagon is now remembered, as 
this one descended to his youngest son, Baltzer, who was his 
farmer at the time of his demise, in 1820, and is still remembered 
by a grandson (blind Daniel Garnhart), who is yet living. It 
was well taken care of, and was still in use many years after 
Heinrich's death. It was one of those heavy wains widely known 
as "Conestoga Wagons," with broad tire, long and high panelled 
body, usually painted blue, with bowed bottom to keep the load 
from sliding or jolting, high ends and sides correspondingly 
curved. Wooden bows crossed over the body from side to side, 
on which a cover of thick unbleached linen was stretched, making 
a roof to keep the goods dry, as well as for protection from sun 
and dust. These great wagons often carried four and five tons of 
merchandise — for the transportation of which they were in great 
favor in the past century, before the day of canals and railroads — ■ 
and when thus freighted were drawn by four to six heavy horses. 

These Conestogas were conspicuous objects moving along the 
highways, appearing almost like houses or boats on wheels, and 
were in consequence often in later years called "Arks," "Road 
Schooners," or "Ships of the Prairie." I well remember the in- 
terest with which I several times examined well-preserved relics 
of this order when a boy. On one side of the immense body 
there was a box about 12 or 14. inches long and perhaps a foot 
deep, with a sloping lid and strong strap hinges, in which were 
carried hammer, nails, straps, cords, and various other articles 
that might be needed in case of a break-down, to mend wagon or 
harness. Iron loops were also so arranged on one side as to hold 
an axe, which was always ready for the same purpose, and was 
often also needed to clear the, road of fallen tree trunks, or tree 
tops, after severe storms. Such was the wagon that constituted 
one of our ancestor's most valued possessions, and with which 
he migrated from Berks to Northumberland. The reader may 
imagine him seated in the saddle on the left wheel horse, known 



Tlic Gcnihavdt Paiuily History. 49 

always as the "saddle horse," or sometimes one of the boys, or 
one of the girls, for a change, patiently moving along on a three 
or four days' journey through the yet undemolished forest, slowly 
climbing over the various rugged mountain spurs, crossing the 
still sparsely settled valleys, fording the streams, floating across 
the North Branch of the Susquehanna on a ferry flat, while Rosine 
and the girls were perched high up on the load on seats made 
comfortable with sheep pelts or bedding. Bells on the horses 
doubtless united their pleasing tinkle with the noise of the heavy 
wagon, to break the stillness of the forest on hill and in dale, as 
the use of bells on such teams was one of the cherished customs 
of that day. 

SETTLEMENT IN NORTHUMBERLAND. 

The date of the arrival on the West Branch of the Susque- 
hanna we have found no record to^ determine, but it is certain that 
on the 19th day of April, 1805, as already stated, Heinrich ob- 
tained his deed for the 181 3-4 acres known as the Sinking 
Springs, in Turbot Township (since 1843 ii'^ the division known 
as Delaware Township), where he lived until he died (1820), and 
where his family finally dissolved, his children one by one scat- 
tering and settling in various sections of the country. It has 
been surmised that he lived a year or more in the neighborhood — 
perhaps with Jacob, or Magdalena, as both were already settled 
here, or possibly on the place he bought, which he might have 
articled for before the deed was executed — but this is a mere guess. 
Three years before he died (1817) he bought the remaining 162 
acres, then probably all still woodland, and part of the original 
survey for some years known as the Durham property. In the 
recollection of persons still living the greater part of the township 
was still covered with forest. 

The name Sinking Springs originated from a rivulet that 
issues from several fountain-heads, jbut mainly from a very large 
and elegant spring on the place (see illustration), and discharges 
into the Susquehanna three miles or more below. The stream 
(not the springs) sinks below the surface some distance below 
the springs and runs a considerable part of the way underground. 



50 TliQ Gcnihardt Family History. 



then again appears on the surface and flows on above-ground 
until it unites with the river. As it flows on "with many ' a 
curve," you, dear reader, may imagine that it is forever babbhng 
the famous (Tennyson's) song of The Brook: 

"I chatter, chatter, as I flow 

To join the brimming river, 
For men may come and men may go, 

But I go on forever." 

Yes, true it is, many have come, and many have gone, and many 
more will come and go. but the little babbling brook still flows on, 
and will go on forever, just as it did when our ancestors saw it 
"curve and flow to join the brimming river." 

The pool formed 1)}' the main spring is about 25 feet wide and 
50 feet long, as clear as crystal, and is at present surroiuided by 
a group of six large and ancient-looking willows, but which it is 
said have grown up and were planted since the place passed out 
of the Gernhardt name. When we saw it in the summer of 1900 
it was the home of a large school of shy trout. The 343 3-4 
acres owned by Heinrich are now all cleared and divided into a 
number of tracts, the part bordering on the public road now con- 
stituting a portion of the site O'f a hamlet occupied by a dozen or 
more families, now known as Springtown, but not a foot of the 
ground is now owned by one of our kindred. How much of this 
world "doth, as a vapour, vanish and decay." The scene is al- 
ready so changed that if Heinrich and Rosine and their children 
could visit the place now, they would hardly recognize it as hav- 
ing once been their cherished home. The streamlet, the undulat- 
ing land, and the hills and mountains in sight, might indeed still 
seem familiar, and yet how true it is that — 

"Change is written on the tide, 
On the forest's leafy pride; 
On the streamlet glancing bright, 
On the jewell'd crown of night; — 
All, where'er the eye can rest, 
Show it legibly imprest." 

Verily, we are one and all but frail pilgrims in the present ever- 
changing world. 



5 




u 



\ 



The GcvnJiardt Faniily History. .51 



Regarding' the family historv of even this later period, but 
meager information could be obtained. All are now in their 
graves who could have furnished the facts and reminiscences that 
would be of exceeding interest to their numerous descendants. 
But we of advanced years can still well realize how very different 
domestic and rural life still was during the fifteen years from the 
purchase (1805) of the Sinking Springs to Heinrich's death 
(1820), and later. Our struggling ancestors were still obliged 
to endure many of the hardships and privations that made up the 
life of the pioneers. But a great and general change of habits 
and customs was making gradual progress ever since the advent 
of the first settlers. Progress and improvement followed thrift 
and prosperity, though not near so rapidly as during the last half 
of the wonderful nineteenth century. In many respects the habits 
at the beginning of the last century were still much the same as 
described in a previous chapter. At the period of Heinrich's set- 
tlement in the West Branch Valley, and during several decades 
later, the contrast of things and usages then with the things and 
practices of the present day w^as still immense. 

A few more things may here be mentioned to enable the 
younger members of the present family, and the generations yet 
to come, to realize in some measure how our ancestors lived in 
the beginning of the past century. People in the then back coun- 
try still dressed very simply, and the clothing of men and women 
was about all made of flax and wool, then still raised on every 
well-managed farm, and the clothing was also mostl_\- home-made. 
A calico dress cost about as much as a silk dress costs now, and 
was even more rare. Every ambitious housewife still had her 
spinning wheel, and man\- a one had even her own loom, and 
made her own cloth. The boys, girls and women, and manv of 
the men, still went barefooted during the summer ; and the girls 
and women often still carried their shoes in their hands when 
they went to meeting on Sunday, and did not put them on their 
feet until near the ])lace of worship. 

Most of the traveling was then done on horseback, though 
nothing was thought of a five, ten, or fifteen mile walk. Light 



=;2 Tlic GcniJiardt Faiuily Hisforv. 



vehicles had not yet come into use. The first "Dearborn" wagon 
probably in Turbot Township was owned by Adam Gudykunst (of 
Milton), who was a hatter by trade, and traveled about the coun- 
try with his fancy turnout selling his hats. This was somewhere 
about 1817. The conveyance was built in Connecticut, had no 
springs, and was rather ponderous, yet was regarded with much 
curiosity. His son, the late Joseph Gudykunst, of Muncy, once 
remarked to me that "it was nearly as heavy as a field gun carri- 
age." 

It would require a separate volume to do full justice to this 
transitional period, but we shall mention only a few more things 
that just now happen to come into mind. Fine home-made linen 
was bleached until as white as pure snow, and made into sheeting, 
pollow-cases, towels, underclothes, etc., to "dress up" for Sunday 
meetings, to go visiting, or courting, or attend funerals. Things 
were then made to last for awhile. The word "shoddy" is not 
exactly new, but it did not then signify as much as it does now. 
A much valued possession of mine is a three bushel grain bag 
made of linen that was in use on my grandfather John Gernert's 
farm, in Upper Macungie, about 65 years ago. Matches were still 
unknown. Coals were kept alive over night by being well cov- 
ered with ashes ; but sometimes the fire would die out, and then 
the ever ready steel and flint and punk were resorted to; or it was 
necessary to speed to some neighbor and borrow fire. Many are 
now living who have heard some of the old people who have 
passed away tell how, in the big hearths of the great stond chim- 
neys of the old-time log houses, the early settlers used to- bake 
bread in low kettle-like iron pots with covers, the pots being placed 
on hot coals, and coals also piled on the pot covers to make the 
loaves bake evenly, — and how they then baked "Johnny cakes," 
all crisp and brown, in long-handled iron pans, or in "spiders" 
with long legs. But when many now living were boys about 
every house was provided with a big stone or brick bake-oven, 
usually standing out in the yard convenient to the kitchen — which 
in turn are now becoming obsolete. 

During Heinrich's time— and until the canals were made and 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 53 



dams were built across the Susquehanna (al)out 1830) — shad 
came up the river from the sea in great schools, each school usually 
consisting- of marvelous numbers. They came up to the creeks 
to spawn, and then later in the season returned to salt water. In 
still earlier times the fish constituted an important part of the 
food of the Indians. "Net Sinkers," in the form of flat notched 
pebbles, of various sizes, with which the dusky fishermen weighted 
their vine-and-grass nets, are still found in great numbers in 
many places along the river. To the white settlers the shad like- 
wise became a dependency, and were caught in immense quanti- 
ties, being by many salted down for summer food. The late 
well-known "Uncle John" McCarty, long an esteemed citizen of 
Muncy, who was born November 4th, 1794, once related to me 
how he used to enjoy fishing for shad, with a seine, and what 
great loads of them he saw sold at the rate of four dollars per 
hundred — only four cents each. As our ancestors lived conven- 
ient to the river, they doubtless often enjoyed the luxury of eating 
shad. 

A: 




INDIAN NET SINKERS. 



POLITICS AND RELIGION. 



Of Heinrich's politics nothing is remembered. The mass of 
early German settlers did not care much lor political honors and 
power, having more ambition to own fertile farms, have clean 
fence rows, possess strapping teams and big barns, raise good 
crops, and quietly enjoy the blissful freedom that the new world 
had promised them — though at the present da\' politics may have 
as great fascination for their descendants as for an_\- other class 
of American citizens. They were in the early day, it seems, more 
or less influenced l)y the Quaker element, — William Penn had 
twice visited (iermanv before he came X.o America, and made 



54 Tlic Gcrnliardt Family History. 

numerous converts to Quakerism, of whom numbers afterwards 
came to Pennsylvania, but whether Heinrich was ever "moved by 
the spirit" of this mild and war-opposing people is not now known. 
William Beidelman, of the Northampton County Bar, in his inter- 
esting book, "The Story of the Pennsylvania Germans," says : 

"The peace of the new province was often threatened by foes 
from within and from without. The wars between England and 
France frequently threatened the peace of all the colonies, and the 
Indians were a menace to the settlers all the time. They would 
start out on frequent raids among the inhabitants, and would 
sometimes perpetrate cruel massacres, against which it was of the 
highest importance to guard, by an efficient militia, the organiza- 
tion of which the Quakers opposed to a man. The Indians knew 
that the civil avithorities could not rely on the Quakers for any 
armed assistance, because they were opposed to war and the bear- 
ing of arms. This left the defense of the colony to the non- 
Quaker population, and to the civil authorities, to which the Quak- 
ers refused loyal support. The Quakers were an embarrassing 
influence in the Colonial Assembly, to- which they were frequently 
elected by the aid of the German votes, especially of those in North- 
ampton County. It has been said that the organization of this 
county was, primarily, for the purpose of divorcing the German 
vote from Quaker control, in behalf of whose candidates it was 
usually cast, in obedience to the influence of the Quakers of Phil- 
adelphia and Bucks Counties." 

This may indicate the general disposition and susceptibility of 
the early German population. But Heinrich settled in Northamp- 
ton at least thirteen years after the county was formed, and it is 
not probable that he was ever directly influenced by Quaker poli- 
ticians or sentiment. He lived during seven Presidential cam- 
paigns and administrations, and though he may never have neg- 
lected his fields to go electioneering, or to participate at a barbe- 
cue, or in any other partisan demonstration, it may be presumed 
that he twice helped to elect George Washington President, and 
that he took part on one side or the other in the battles of the bal- 
lots that elected John Adams, Thomas Jefiferson, James Madison 
and James Monroe to discharge the responsibilities of that high 
office. He died v/hile the latter, near the end of his first term, sat 
in the Presidential chair. 



TIic Gcnihardt Family History. 55 

Phebe Earle Gibbons, in her book, "Pennsylvania Dutch" — 
properly Pennsylvania German, as she herself admits on the first 
page — has the following suggestive item on page 21 : "A gen- 
tleman of Easton, Northampton County, tells me of a German 
farmer, who lived near that town, who said he did not see any 
need of so many parties — the Democrats and Lutherans were 
enough. On his death bed he is reported to have said to his son, 
'I never voted anything but the Democratic ticket, and 1 want you 
to stick to the party.' " This zealous Democrat could not have 
been Heinrich Gernhardt — of course not — as our ancestor had left 
Northampton County while General Washington was still Presi- 
dent, more than a century ago. His sons, it appears, afterwards 
belonged to both parties, and his present descendants are perhaps 
about equally divided in politics. As some whole families of the 
clan are Democrats, and others are all Republicans, it seems that 
partisanship to a great extent becomes a birth-inheritance, or 
initiation during childhood, or in modern evolutionary parlance 
is a question of environment. My good father was a staunch 
Whig; he died when but thirty-one, before the Republican party 
of to-day was born ; and I can well remember shouting with him 
for Harry Clay and Theodore Frelinghuyson before I was quite 
eight years old. I remember also that immediately after it was 
known that James K. Polk and George yi. Dallas, in the battle at 
the polls, had received a majority of the votes cast, I took part 
with a number of my little playmates in the raising of a small 
Hickory Pole, not understanding that liickory wood had any sig- 
nificance, or that we were on the wrong side to commemorate 
victory, and that we should have been rowing our little boats up 
Salt River. General William A. Petrikin, the most prominent 
Democratic politician of the neighborhood, came riding j-jy on 
horseback just as we had the pole up and stopped to compliment 
us on what he supposed was a genuine manifestation of Demo- 
cratic zeal. "This yer ain't a Polk pole, iNIr. Petrikin : it's a Clay 
pole," shouted one of my complacent companions. The enthu- 
siastic Democrat smiled, and without saying another word to the 
ardent young "coons" went on his way — thinking perhaps that we 
were not being raised right. 



^6 Tlic Gcrnliardt Fainilv History. 



The majority of the Germans who settled in Pennsylvania 
were Lutherans, and to this sect our ancestors, Heinrich and 
Rosine, belonged. All would surely be glad to know when in the 
old world their ancestors adopted the doctrines of the Reforma- 
tion, and just what it meant to them socially and practically, as 
well as religiously, to separate from the then unmotherly Mother 
Church, but we can onl\- guess from general history that there 
were no love-feasts with the old masters and brethren and sisters 
in commemoration of their withdrawal. The fight for religious 
freedom and rights of conscience was long and hot, and was for- 
ever inevitably being mixed up with politics, the personal interests 
of ambitious partisans, of bigoted priests and intriguing potentates, 
and it is not likely that the injunction in the 44th verse of the fifth 
chapter of Matthew was often very strictly observed by either side. 
Beidelman, in the historv^ just referred to, says: "The religious 
contentions followed soon after Martin Luther's protestation 
against the Church of Rome, and they continued for more than 
one hundred years. They were waged with a cruelty and ferocity 
compared to which the crimes of the Turks in later years against 
the Christian Armenians pale into a mere shadow." When Pro- 
testants got the upper hand they too could make cruel use of their 
power, as for instance, when John Calvin instigated the burning 
of Michael Servetus, the celebrated physician and theologian, and 
when John Rogers declined to help save Joan Boucher, as sincere 
a Christian as himself, and coolly declared that "she ought to be 
burned." 

Not to dwell too long on this subject, I will here merely add 
that the seeds of religious conviction of our early American ances- 
tors have not all continued to sprout and develop on the new-world 
soil precisely as planted and watered, as their dearly cherished 
Lutheranism — like the commingling of their life-blood with the 
blood of a multitude of other families, of which a few words ap- 
pear in another chapter' — is now blending with many other reli- 
gions, as with Methodism, Presbyterianism,Episcopalianism, Con- 
gregationalism, Baptistism, Adventism, Unitarianism, and has we 
know in the present generation been leavened with unconventinal 



The Gcrnliardt Family History. 57 

and peace-loving Quakerism. It may l)e (juestioned how Heinrich 
would have regarded this tendency of splitting up, if he had heen 
told of it while alive in the llesh, and when, like all the world, he 
only saw things through glasses darkly ; but, if it were possible 
for him to send a message to his numerous descendants from his 
present abode, he would doubtless think it quite enough to remind 
them of the words of Him who said, "By this shall all men know 
that ye are my disciples, if ye love one another." 

A writer in the "North American Review" not long ago in- 
sisted that the Roman Catholic Church is now the most hopeful 
of the three great divisions of the Christian Church — meaning the 
Greek Church, the Roman Catholic Church, and the Protestant 
Church. The Roman Catholic Church is thus assumed to have 
the best prospect for the future, because she is so nearly a unit, 
and because sharing liberally in the growing light of the age ; and 
that the Protestant Church has sufifered and is now falling be- 
hind, because disintegrated into so many sects through the prin- 
ciple of the right of private judgment. And because at last real- 
izing that the foundation of true religion is not individual right 
but loyalty to Christ, it is further affirmed that the Protestant 
Church is now striving for a reunion of its many separated parts. 

If all denominations were united in one common body, would 
that make men more truly Christians ? Are the more unified 
Roman Catholics more Christian than their fellow-Christians of 
other creeds ? True religion is in the life, in the spirit, and not 
in the outward form, or profession, or creed, or name. Loyalty 
to Christ and to Truth does not require rcnunciati(Mi of private 
judgment. It onlv asks the intelligent and reasonable and pious 
use of man's good sense. Is not a good Quaker, or an equally 
good Methodist, or a truly good I>aptist, or Presbyterian, just as 
loyal and near and dear to Christ as a good Roman Catholic, or 
a good Lutheran ? Xay, is not the name of Jesus of Nazareth 
the only name under heaven given among men whereby man can 
be saved ? 

The Protestant Church may with l)ctter reason be claimed to 
be the more hoi)ei"ul, and to stand at the front of the tripartite 



58 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

division, not onh' because it l:)roke away from Roman Catholo- 
cism, but from the very fact that it was itself broken into frag- 
ments. Disintegration into a multitude of bodies, though not 
without attendant evils, has still further promoted religious free- 
dom, and been a great factor in the progress of thought and of 
true religion. It has still further advanced the cause of Reforma- 
tion. It has served to broaden and liberalize the Christian mind. 
It has helped to show the folly of persecution, and to ex- 
tinguish the fires of martyrdom. It has aided to free 
Christianity more effectually from the incubus of paganism 
and superstition, and from what Luther termed "the Roman dung- 
hill of decretals." It has made more clear what is essential and 
what is non-essential. It has stimulated criticism, and given 
Bible students a new and better conception of the Truth. It has 
even had a salutary and reformatory influence on Roman Catholic- 
ism. When at last the reunion of the many parts does take place, 
unity will then be on a broad, solid and lasting basis. The world 
will then have Truth for authority, and not mere human authority 
for Truth. Then indeed there will be but One Church, One 
Faith, One Baptism, as all will by One Spirit be baptized into One 
Body and drink into One Spirit. x'Vnd then even the three great 
divisions of the Christian Church will become as One. 

SUPERSTITION. 

A descendant of Heinrich living in the western section of the 
State of New York writes that he remembers hearing an uncle 
who had many years ago visited in Pennsylvania say, that "the 
relations down East were more or less superstitious, and that some 
even believed in spooks and hcxcrci" (witchcraft). This may 
have been true, but I can say that I have never known or heard 
of any instance among them of serious belief in spooks or witches 
in my day, except in a few not serious instances among timid 
young people. I have, however, observed enough of superstition 
in some of its protean forms wherever I have been, whether North 
or South, or East or West. Superstition is not a mere provincial 
or family foible, but is a world-wide imperfection, or predisposi- 



TJic Gcrnliardt Fajiiilv Hislory. 59 



tion to belief in the presence and power of bcinc;s in an unseen 
world all around us, that has come down to all from our over- 
credulous ancestors as an inheritance. Man has not yet entirely 
emerged from the Dark Ages of superstition, or outgrown the 
irrational conceits of the childhood-age of the world. A few 
words under this head may be of some interest, therefore, to the 
wiser and less superstitious generations of Heinrich's blood in 
the future — as it is hoped that those who follow in the ages to 
come will know much more, and be a great deal better, than the 
kindred of this generation. All now well know, or ought to 
know, that there is any amount of room* for improvement in the 
best of families. 

Yes, T do remember hearing some of the old folks talk in a sort 
of jocose way about some erratic persons who they said behaved 
as if they might have been fcr-hc.vt (bewitched), — in the same 
figurative sense as the Devil is now sometimes said to have con- 
trol of persons, — but I never heard of anyone I knew, related or 
not related, who was seriously thought to be bewitched. And I 
never met a person of good sense who thought that he had ever 
encountered a genuine spook. Superstition in this form I am 
positive has not in mv time prevailed "down East" any more than 
elsewhere. There was a fearful amount of such credulity in times 
past, in all parts of what is now called the civilized world, but no 
stain has ever besmirched the character of the Pennsylvania Ger- 
mans an\thing like the witchcraft delusion of the English settlers 
in Massachusetts, who in 1692 hung nineteen innocent persons at 
Salem, under the aberrant idea that they were witches, and had at 
the same time incarcerated from 150 to 200 others charged with 
the same occult powers, who would i)erhaps soon have shared the 
same tragic fate if there had not still beeii people of sense enough 
left to see the folly of such superstition and persecution, and had 
not the w\\i\ frenzy thus been checked. < )nc of the unfortunate 
victims was a little child only five years old. Many such shocking 
things are recorded of that unhappy era of popular excitement. 
One poor old Irish woman was charged with being a witch, and 
simply because she could not re])eat the Lord's Prayer absolutely 



6o Tlic Gernhardt Family History. 

correct, she was adjudged to be guilty and executed. Even a dog 
was tried for the same offense and killed. Sir Walter Scott, re- 
ferring to this dark chapter in English history, in his "Letters on 
Demonology and Witchcraft," says that "even the barbarous In- 
dians were struck with wonder at the infatuation of the English 
colonists on this occasion, and drew disadvantageous comparisons 
between them and the French, among whom, as they remarked, 
'the Great Spirit sends no witches.' " Descendants of Heinrich 
and Rosine, you need never be ashamed of your German ancestry. 
If you are, you ought to be ashamed of yourselves. 

Of course the Germans, as well as the people of all other 
nationalities, have inherited many superstitions in the way of 
signs, omens, cures, and illusions of various kinds. For instance, 
to see the moon first over the right shoulder is believed to denote 
good luck. If a child is stepped over by any one it will either en- 
tirely stop growing, or be stunted in its growth. To let a knife 
or fork unintentionally drop on the floor while seated at a table 
means that some one is coming who is hungry. If thirteen guests 
are seated at a table it is an omen that one of the number will die 
soon. Many are extremely averse to starting from home on a 
long, journey, or to begin any important work or enterprise, on a 
Friday. If the cat is washing her coat visitors may be expected 
soon. If one's hair is cut on the first Friday of new moon it will 
grow thicker and more beautiful. If a dog wails it portends 
death in the family or of some dear friend. When, some years ago, 
a young man I well knew got married and it was discovered that 
he had thoughtlessly put one of his socks on wrong side out, the 
whole house regarded it with satisfaction as an omen of good 
luck, and heartily congratulated the young man. Children who 
were supposed to be azvgczvocksa (liver-grown) were cured by 
some sort of conjuration known as pow-wowing, — and I well re- 
member how confident one of our kindred who died many years 
ago seemed to be that he had such power. To prevent home- 
sickness when coming to a new place, the proper thing to do is to 
make haste and look up at the sky through the chimney. To cure 
or prevent rheumatism, the wrist, arm or ankle is bandaged with 



Tlic Gernhardt Family History. 6i 



an eel-skin. 1 knew a man of English descent who carried a raw 
potato in his pants pocket for many years for the same purpose. 
The tuber tinally g'ot so smooth, hard and shrunken that it was 
not easy for anv one to guess what it was. There is no end to 
such senseless ghmnca (beliefs) — but where in the wide world do 
we not find them ? It so chanced that wliile I was writing this 
very chapter a lady of English parentage called on my wife, and 
as she had entered at the dining room door, she hesitated when 
leaving to go out the front door, saying, 'T will go out the way I 
came, or I might 1;)ring you visitors." My wife must have been 
visibly amused as she remarked, "Oh! the visitors will come just 
the same," as the lady quickly responded in an apologetic tone, 
"I don't care for myself, if you don't mind it." No one cares to 
be thought superstitious, yet the entailed predisposition to be so is 
manifested by every one of us at some time and in some way. 

Every age. and every nation, has its idle whims and frivolous 
delusions, a history of which would require dozens of volumes, 
instead of a few hasty paragraphs. Often great multitudes have 
all at once strangely given themselves up to some great delusion, 
or gone wild in pursuit of some senseless fad, and through the 
same caprice that leads to superstition. Whether it is the idea of 
perpetual motion, of the philosopher's stone, of the elixir of life, 
of the fountain of youth, of the crusades to the Holy Land, of the 
divine right of kings, of the immolation of heretics to establish the 
Church of God, of Christian science, of an oligarchy based on 
slavery, of spiritualism, of demonism, or whether it is the witch 
mania, it proceeds from the same love of mvsterw want of com- 
mon sense, and the inborn tendcncv to superstition, or to see ob- 
jects and conditions that have no existence l)Ut in the imagination. 
But there is Hope for humanity, b'ducation, the diffusic ii of 
practical knowledge, the se|)aration of Church and State, better 
acquaintance with the kiws of nature, a right conception of what 
constitutes true religion, a higher ideat of life, is destined to dis- 
pel the mist of superstition and homage for tlu- ])urol\- \isionary, 
by which the human mind lias so long been enlhralletL 

A most insidious yet senseless phase of superstition is the mon- 



62 The Gent hard f Faiiiilx History. 



strons delusion of Spiritualism, with its rappings and tappings, 
its table tippings and slate writings, and its 'pretended communi- 
cations with and materializations of the dead. Our esteemed 
relative in Yankeedom need hardly be reminded that the birth- 
place of what is called Alodern Spiritualism was not far from his 
own home, and that he need not come "down East" to find the 
best soil for the propagation of that hallucination. New York, 
New England and the progressive West have furnished more 
mediums, in proportion to numbers, than the sturdy and chary 
Pennsylvania Germans. The latter — with some exceptions of 
course — are too open and honest to pose as mediums. 

But that the Germans "down East" were in early times rather 
inclined to believe in the existence and power of witches may be 
inferred from the following amusing account in Linn's "Annals 
of Bufifalo Valley" of a witchcraft farce that was enacted in Union 
County, only a few miles south of the Sinking Springs, and but 
five years after the demise of Heinrich : 

"During this year a remarkable farce of witchcraft was played 
in the family of a man named Kern, in Beaver Township. He 
had a wife and two daughters, and followed the occupation of 
farming. In his immediate vicinity lived a man named Romig, 
who, from some unknown cause, .became a hypochondriac, and the 
impression got abroad that he was bewitched. Soon after this 
the milk in Kern's spring-house became sour, within a few hours 
after it was placed there. This occurred daily, until the farce was 
concluded, which was in two or three weeks. The next act 
played was of a more remarkable character. Kern's tables and 
kitchen furnitin"e were to be seen flying in all directions, thrown, 
it was supposed, by supernatural means. Knives, forks, spoons, 
ladles, &c., never remained more than five minutes on the dresser 
after having been placed there, but were thrown in various direc- 
tions about the house ; and, as the more believing portion of the 
neighbors asserted, it was no uncommon thing to see them thrown 
through the solid wall of the house, without leaving any mark of 
their passage in the wall ! A peddler, who stopped for the pur- 
pose of trading some of his notions to Kern, asserted that he had 
not been in the house ten minutes before his hat and dog were 
thrown through the wall of the kitchen into the adjoining yard. 



^ 



The Gcriihardt Fuinily History. 63 

It is not to be presumed that he was influence;! in ])ropag'ating this 
story by the hope of assembling a crowd around his wagon. 

"Durino: these transactions Kern had a numerous crowd daily 
at his house, and on Sundays there was a gathering at his door. 
such as the most eloquent divine would have failed to assemble 
Of these the major part came prepared to believe all they saw, 
and all thev might hear. ( )f course, there was no lack of true 
stories. The unbelieving portion of the visitors — a verv small 
number, for men of sense generally staid at home — kept their 
eves open, and readilv discovered that the old woman and the 
daughters were the witches, and threw the knives, forks, &c. A 
witch doctor was called, who proceeded, with great solemnity, to 
expel the evil spirit. Divers magical and mysterious rites were 
performed, exorcisms were chanted, and texts of Scripture nailed 
to every door and window in the house. The witches, however, 
set the doctor at naught, and baffled all his schemes. At length a 
partv of voung men, residing in New Berlin, resolved to try their 
skill at taking evil spirits. One of them, having procured a mask, 
a huge flaxen-wig, a pair of furred gloves, and other necessary 
apparatus, set out with the rest, in the afternoon, and arrived at 
Kern's earlv in the evening. At their request the witches per- 
formed, to their great satisfaction, until a late hour. At length, 
when all the visitors, except the young witch doctors, had left the 
house, it was resolved to commence operations. They desired to 
see how the witches acted above stairs, and were accordinglv con- 
ducted ttp the ladder, accompanied 1\\- the wdiole family. In the 
meantime one of the part}-, who had a remarkably hoarse and 
deep-toned voice, and who was to act the part of the devil, was 
notified by a preconcerted signal — for he had not entered the 
house — to prepare for action. He accordingly \n\t on his wig 
and mask, which he rubbed with phosphorus, and wrapped himself 
in a buffalo skin. The partv up stairs were well i^rovidcd with 
squibs. One of them had a piece of phosphorus, with whioli he 
wrote on the wall such words as "devil," "hell," &c.. in a num1)er 
of places. The signal being given, the candle was extinguished, 
the sqttibs distributed most copiouslv. and the horrid words on 
the wall shone out in liquid fire. The barrels and furniture in 
the room were trundled abcnit the lloor, and an astounding u]H"tiar 
was kept u]) for some minutes. i'resentl\ a terrific roar was 
heard from below. .\11 ])arties ran to the stair-door, and saw, at 
the foot of the ladder. His Grim .}[ajesty. in all the terrors of 
flames, flax, fur, and horns. Satan matle an a])proi)riate si)eech 
on the occasion, and then retired. His address w^as followed bv a 



64 The GcrnJiardt Family History. 

most edifying exhortation, by the wag of the party, on the sin of 
deceiving, and the danger of another visit from Old Nick, if the 
present practices should be persisted in. The terrified witches 
made a full confession, and so ended the enchantment." 

THE DELAWARE RUN CHURCH. 

Rosine died sometime before Heinrich, but no record appears 
to exist of the date of her demise. After persistent inquiry no 
trace of the Family Bible was discovered. Neither her grave nor 
Heinrich's ''narrow house" were ever properly marked. Both 
were entirely forgotten by even the oldest of their descendants 
who still live in the neighborhood, and who are members of the 
same church. Some even insisted that the old folks must have 
been buried in the Warrior Run Presbyterian churchyard, the still 
older burial place of the Irish, Scotch and English settlers, some 
three or tour miles south-east of the Sinking Springs. This sur- 
mise was thought reasonable from the fact that it was not until 
the year 1826 that the deed was given for the ground for the Del- 
aware Run Church graveyard, and it was inferred that it was not 
until then that the first church liuilding was erected and the first 
interments were made. The young minister at present in charge of 
the congregation replied to a letter of incjuiry addressed to him on 
the subject, that the church records in his possession only date 
from 1867 — this was the year in which the present more com- 
modious brick edifice was erected — and that he was sorry he could 
not furnish the information that was wanted. 

But the "swallowing gulf of dark oblivion" has not engulfed 
all the truth in this instance. On further investigation it was 
found that, whereas Daniel Fulmer during his lifetime had prom- 
ised to donate the ground to the St. John's Lutheran congrega- 
tion, and had died without making either a conveyance or a will, 
a deed for the land (159 perches) was therefore executed by his 
administrators, Jacob Follmer and Abraham Sterner, on the 14th 
day of February, 1826, by the direction of the Court of Northum- 
berland County. Daniel Fulmer died August 14th, 1823, and 
was himself l)uried on the promised ground three years even be- 
fore the deed was made ; and his agreement with the congrega- 









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The Gcnihardt faniily History. 65 

tion is positive evidence that there was such a congregation exist- 
ing before he tUed, and definite ground for the hehef that there 
was also ah-eady a graveyard. And fortunately for correct his- 
tory a son of the donor of the land was found to be still living 
within a mile or two of the church, and although in his 86th year 
was still in full possession of his mental faculties, and was able 
to explain the matter and prevent such a wrong impression from 
passing down as history. Mr. Daniel luilmer junior was born 
]\Iarch 13th. 1 81 7. and lived nearly all his life on the very farm 
on which the graveyard and first church edifice were located. He 
was the fifth of the six children of Daniel Fulmer, deceased. To 
him it is a clear and certain matter of family history that the first 
church was built before he leaS born. His sister Sarah (McCoy) 
was born in 181 5, and was a babe at the time the building was 
erected. The first house of worship, therefore, was not built 
later than 1816, the last year before Daniel Fulmer junior was 
born. 

The oldest graves in the Delaware Run churchyard have no 
inscribed headstones. Many have either common undressed 
stones, or rudely trimmed stone slabs, and some evidently are now 
without even such simple, visible tokens, the stones having sunken 
out of sight or been unmindfully removed. A venerable member 
of the congregation, who claims to have dug more graves here in 
his day than any other man, says that it is impossible to make a 
grave in any part of the old section of the ground without uncov- 
ering human bones. Though Daniel Fulmer was buried here in 
1823, and had years before given the ground for a graveyard and 
church, the marble slab that marks his grave was not set up until 
sometime between 1835 and 1840, when his son Daniel was a 
grown up young man. The two oldest graves we could find 
marked with headstones bearing legible names antl dates are the 
tombs of I'eter Shady, who died November 20th, 1822, and of 
Anna Susan Mosteller, born a Fetterman, wife of Heinrich Mos- 
teller, born July 26th, 1758, and died September 15th, 1822. 
These were buried before Daniel Fulmer, and four years before, 
as some thought, the first building was erected, and only two 



66 The Geriihardt Family History. 



years after Heinrich Gernhardt died. All who died prior to 1822 
have no tombstone records — a goodly number, as appearances 
seem to indicate — and among them, to the regret of many de- 
scendants, are Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt and their son 
Philip's first wife. There are several other graves marked with 
common dark stones from some near by quarry, that once bore in- 
scriptions probably older, but the decaying memorials have scaled 
ofif so much that whatever was inscribed on them is no longer 
legible. There is no reason at all we think to doubt, therefore, 
that the Delaware Run churchyard is the final resting place of 
our ancestors. And after making a diagram of the part of the 
ground where so many of their nearest descendants are buried, it 
seems almost certain that the very spot where they were interred 
can still be pointed out. I5ut their sleep in their narrow houses 
is just as sound and restful, and the final summons that shall 
awaken them is just as sure to be heard, though their graves are 
unmarked and unknown. 

The venerable Mr. Fulmer also said that he had often heard 
his mother, and other old people of the congregation, declare how 
for years before they had a special house of worship they used to 
meet in their dwellings to sing and pray and hear the gospel ex- 
pounded when the weather was cold, and that in warm weather 
they sometimes assembled in the barns or under the trees. Hein- 
rich and Rosine beyond a doubt found a congregation here, when 
they settled among the people of their own language and religion, 
who had been here in some instances as much as a quarter of a 
century befo/e them. And for at least four years before Hein- 
rich died he could also meet with them in a house built expressly 
for divine worship. And moreover, as the Delaware Run church 
was only about one mile from the Sinking Springs, it is altogether 
improbable that they were buried elsewhere and with people of 
another tongue and name. In this connection the fact is of in- 
terest that many of their household and neighbors are sleeping 
here with them. Near them are buried a son and three daughters 
— Baltzer, Anna Elizabeth, Catharine, and Susanna; two daugh- 
ters-in-law — Philip's first wife and the wife of Baltzer ; two sons- 



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The Gcrnhardt family History. 6/ 



ill-law — Peter Fogelman and George Mosteller ; besides four 
grandchildren and a number of great-grandchildren. Sweetly 
and peacefully they slumber here under the clods of the valley, 
waiting for the bright day when, according to the apostolic faith 
to which the\' held, "this corruptible must put on incorruption, 
and this mortal must put on immortality." 

The first church building was a high one-story log structure, 
lathed and plastered on the outside, and thickly overspread with 
small pebbles, giving it a rough cast, stone-like, conglomerate as- 
pect — a common style of building in that era The entrance was 
by a double door in front, next to the public road, close to which 
it stood. The pulpit was at the opposite or gable end, and was an 
elevated, old-fashioned hour-glass or goblet-like structure sup- 
ported by a single center post, from which the minister had a com- 
manding view of the galleries that extended around three sides 
of the building and had each three or four rows of seats. The 
ground, 159 perches, was deeded February 14, 1826, as directed 
by the County Court, as already stated, by the administrators of 
Daniel Fulmer, to John Lose and Solomon Menges, as "trustees 
of the German Church on land adjoining a branch of Delaware 
Run in said (Turbut, but now Delaware) Township, called St. 
Johns." In this building we feel assured that our ancestor, Hein- 
rich, attended divine service, as most of his children continued to 
do for some years after he died — Magdalena. Jacob and Margaret 
having already migrated with their families to the state of New 
York before he was numbered with the dead. 

The present building is of 1)rick, 40 1)\- ^)0, with a basement for 
the use of the Sunday school. It stands partly on the sight of the 
old house, but mainly on laud ( 2~ perches) that was given by 
Joseph Graven for the nominal sum of one dollar. Samuel Garn- 
hart, one of the sons of Baltzer, served as a member of the build- 
ine: committee. A marble tablet on the outside front of the cluu'ch 
bears the inscription : "St. John's Delaware Run Cnion Church, 
Ai)ril 2(S, 1867." A small German Reformed congregation as- 
sisted in l)uilding it, and also still worship in il. 



68 The Gcnihardt Family History. 

THE NAME GERNHARDT. 

There are certain facts that will perhaps seem curious to all 
who are interested in this genealogical history ; as, for instance, 
first, the many mutations that the ancestral name Gernhardt has 
undergone ; and second, that not one of all the numerous descend- 
ants now writes it in the original way. From Gernhardt it has 
been changed to Garnhardt, Gernhart, Garnhart, Gernardt, Gar- 
nett. Garnet, Gernet, Gernert, Gernerd, and several of the kin we 
know had formed the habit of spelling it Gerner. This does not 
seem to be so curious, after all, when we take the trouble to inves- 
tigate the subject. It is reallv nothing unusual. The name Gern- 
hardt has only shared what is a ver}^ common fate of names. 
See list of names, for instance, in the history of the Jacob Garnet 
line of Heinrich's descendants. I could give many examples 
from my own personal knowledge. The most remarkable case 
of change of any family I am acquainted with is the name 
Ecroyd. The author of a history of this English family, the an- 
cestr}^ of which he traces back five centuries, says : "The name 
has been spelt in a hundred different ways and pronounced ac- 
cordingly." Possibly in course of time the name Gernhardt ma}- 
be diversified to a far greater extent than at present. Perhaps 
if we could follow it back five hundred years it might be found 
in many other forms, and quite as unlike what we now term the 
original as any of its American corruptions or simplifications. 

Names get changed through a variety of causes and circum- 
stances, doubtless sometimes even from a sense of selfish pride, 
as not wishing to be known to be connected with certain families, 
or possibly because not wanting to be considered Dutch, or Irish. 
Often some local or trivial cause is the secret of change, or the 
origin of a new name. A man by the name of Brower, for in- 
stance, as we are told, started a brczucry. To distinguish him 
from others of the same name he was called Brew^er, and from 
him are descended many who now write the name Brewer, some 
perhaps not knowing that the name was ever changed. I once 
met an old man in the eastern part of Pennsylvania who was only 
known as Billy Cherry. When a babe he was found under a 



Tlic Gcrnhardt P'ainily History. 69 

cherry tree, and because his rightful name was not known he was 
christened William Cherry. A similar case we have heard re- 
lated occurred in Columbia County many years ago. The Rev. 
Peter Kessler, a well-known Lutheran minister, one morning 
found an infant lying on the plaitk walk at his front door, and as 
no one claimed the waif the compassionate divine adopted him 
and named him Peter Plank. But no change of cognomen from 
such cause, or from mistaken pride, we believe has ever occurred 
to any of the Gernhardt clan. 

The same general cause that has led to the never-ending 
change of language, as the steady progress of learning, and the 
commingling and unification of man}- nationalities, has doubtless 
also affected the pronunciation and spelling of personal names. 
Consider for a moment the transition of the Anglo-Saxon of four 
or five hundred years ago to our uK^dern English — of which ready 
illustration may be found in our best dictionaries. It is with some 
difficulty that we can now understand the language of even three 
hundred years ago. And this has been more or less the case with 
all languages. Language is forever in a transitionary condition, 
a state of decay and reconstruction, of change and progress. 
"Ah me ! what is there in earth's various range, which time — may 
not change !" 

The best of scholars welcome change of words when in tlie 
direction of simplicity, as, for example, the transition from plough 
to plow, from favour to favor, from quartette to quartet, from 
Engelond to England, from Esquimaux to Eskimo. W'h}-, if 
there is any other special reason, my grandfather changed the 
name Gernhardt to Gernert, and my father transposed Gernort 
into Gernerd, I never learned, as it was done long before I joined 
the family and got a name ; but I have no suspicion whatever that 
either was ever for a moment ashamed of the name. A frequml 
cause, it is evident, is the intermingling of dift'erent languages, 
want of education, and thoughtless disregard of time-honored cus- 
tom. A German, by the way, is very mucli inclined to use the 
phonetics (/ and t interchangeably, just as // and are often used 
reci])rocall\- ])y luiglishmen. I recall once seeing a road-guide in 



JO The Gernhardt Family History. 

Lehigh County inscribed, "Roat to Breinigsville !" The reader 
will perhaps here be reminded that Conrad Kreider in his letter 
to the Supreme Executive Council speaks of being obliged to have 
the horses "shot" before they were fit for service in the army. A 
German is also particularly apt to leave the t/i silent, as, for in- 
stance, when he says Soitss Easton, for South Easton, Norsamsoii 
for Northampton, and I sink for I think. 

As this subject of the mutation of names is of general and 
permanent interest, the readers of this book will appreciate the 
following instructive excerpts from an address delivered by the 
Rev. D. E. Schoedler at the annual reunion of the Follmer (or 
Fulmer) family, in Northumberland County, October i6, 1894, 
and published in Vol. 1 1 of the Meginness Historical Journal. 
(Mr. Schoedler, by the way, some years ago had charge of the 
Delaware Run congregation) : 

"In no country in the world have names been so shamefidly 
mutilated as in America ; worst of all the Huguenot names of 
New York, and next to them the German names of Pennsylva- 
nia. The process began with the settlement of the country. In 
1727 the proprietors of Pennsylvania issued a proclamation in 
which they requested the Germans to assume English surnames. 
Many, moved by a feeling of loyalty, complied with the recom- 
mendation. In this way, besides innumerable instances of direct 
translation, many German families got surnames which appear to 
be purely English or Scotch. Would you not think that names 
like Buchanan, Livingstone and Kercheval are either English or 
Scotch? They are German, however. Buchanan is Buchenhain 
(beech-grove), Livingstone is Loewenstein, and Kercheval is 
Kirchenwall (church wall). 

"Some years ago there lived in Pennsylvania a family by the 
name of Fenerstein. Moving to Virginia, the children were en- 
rolled by the village school teacher under the name of Flint ; and, 
subsequently, In Indiana, the name Flint was changed into Gun. 
Those who are conversant with both English and German can 
easily see how these transformations took place. 

"1 have an aversion to hybrid forms — names partly English 
and partly German, such as Stonemetz instead of Steinmetz. So 
also it is foolish to try to preserve the pronunciation of one lan- 
guage by the spelling of another. This gives rise to such hy- 



The Gernhardt Faiiiily History. 



brids as Steinbaugh, Stienback, Rodenbaugh, Bri(lcnl)augli ( lircit- 
enbach), etc. If you have inherited from your ancestors the 
res])ectal)le name of Lanterl^ach, please do not chang'e it into 
Louderliough or Lowterback. if \-ou have become so intensely 
F^nglish that vou cannot suffer your honorable German name to 
remain intact, translate it into Clearbrook and be done with it. 
It woidd then be sufficient!}' pretty to- satisfy the most fastidi- 
ous, and future generations might i)ossibl)' allow it to remain un- 
changed. 

"All such changes are, however, a sign either of weakness or 
of empty pride. The person who aft'ects them is ashamed (^f his 
home, of the language of his ancestors, and longs for that which 
is strange and foreign. It is commendable in the Germans that 
are coming to America that they should be anxious and eager to 
learn the English language, and to adapt themselves to American 
customs and manners ; but as soon as some of them can say 'yes* 
and 'no,' they don't want to use their mother tongue. Said one 
German to another: JVic alt ist dcinc Fran? (How old is your 
wife?) Instead of answering in (lerman he answered in Eng- 
lish, saying: 'My wife is dirty and I am dirty-two." This crav- 
ing after that which is strange and foreign reminds me of those 
persons wdio are fond of using foreign words and phrases, and of 
an incident related by Sydney Smith. Once upon a time he vis- 
ited a lady wdio had a great many dift'erent kinds of flowers, and 
wdio was fond of using their Latin instead of their common Eng- 
lish names. 'Madam,' asked Mr. Smith, 'have you got the scabies 
septemdeccmf 'Why, no, Mr. Smith, I do not have it now, but 
I used to have it.' '\\'ell, Madam, the scabies septeiiidcceiii is 
the seventeen years itch." (This is a joke on the English, b\- tliQ 
w^ay. J. M. M. G.) 

"If the Germans of Pennsylvania have failed to receive the 
recognition which they deserve, the fact is i)rinci]>all\- due to the 
readiness with which they have ignored their grand traditions, as 
though it were a disgrace to be connected by descent with the land 
of Gutenberg and Luther, of Leibnitz and Huml)ol(lt. of ( Wiethe 
and vSchillcr, of Scharnhorst and Stein." 

This is interesting" and nearly all true, but. Mr. Schoodler. it 
is not entirely correct. It is useless to stri\-e with one's breath 
to change the course of the wind. The world mows, and we 
must move along with it' — or get left behind. To keep in tlie 
current of human ])rogress, and adapt oursi'l\-es to American 



72 TJic Gernhardt Family History. 

customs and manners, is neither a sign of weakness nor of empty 
pride. To respect and appreciate our German ancestors we need 
no more use, spell and pronounce words and names the same as 
they did than that we must dress as they did, work and live as 
they did, use the same clumsy tools', travel in the same convey- 
ances, build the same style of houses and ships, bind our books in 
half-inch boards and rawhide, write only with goose-quills, sleep 
in feather beds, bake bread in brick-and-mortar ovens^ pow-wow 
for the relief or cure of diseases, believe in spooks and witches, 
and be forever consulting almanacs about the weather, and watch- 
ing the signs of the zodiac. If Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt 
have made any progress in learning since they left the earth, they 
are doubtless pleased that their descendants have enough progres- 
siveness and originality to depart from their own simple ways 
and manners, to do better than they have done, if even sometimes 
to long for that which is strange and foreign, and are glad to 
have them prefer the language of the land as soon as they can 
say "yes" and "no." The present ways of spelling their name 
would interest and amuse them, doubtless, because perchance now 
comprehending the universal drift of mundane things, but would 
surely not' make them think they were for these reasons ignored. 
Gerner, Garnet, Garnett, Gernet, Gernert, Gernerd, Garnhart, 
etc.. are all as pretty as Gernhardt, and so far as mere names can 
be are just as honorable — especially to the great majority who 
have honorably inherited them, and can not now very well reverse 
them. I, for one, shall hold on to the name my father gave me. 
Even the name Gernhardt may be supposed to be a mere example 
of many earlier changes. 

CHANGE OF LANGUAGE AND OF LIVING. 

The mother tongue seems destined to become extinct, at least 
as the language of the descendants of Heinrich Gernhardt and 
his wife Rosine, in a few more generations. The third genera- 
tion already had become somewhat Anglicized, by frequent social 
and business relations with English-speaking people, and through 
the intlucnce of English schools. And naturally this process 
would have been far more rapid if our kin had immediately scat- 



The Gcniliardt Family History. 73 

tered in communities where English was ahnost entirely spoken. 
While the majority of the fourth (my own) generation whom 1 
have met can still speak the so-called Pennsylvania German dia- 
lect, by far the greater number have not learned to read German, 
and I do not personally know one who can now write German, 
or read German writing. My parents still had their German 
newspapers and books when I was a boy, but I doubt if there are 
three families of the kindred who to-day read anything but Eng- 
lish. If Heinrich and Rosine were awakened from their death- 
slumber of almost a century and permitted to visit their numerous 
descendants, they would be obliged to have an interpreter even 
now to converse with many of them. Aly own experience and 
observations of more than half a century incline me to believe 
that in less than sixty years more hardly a descendant will have 
any practical knowledge of German, unless it is acquired by spe- 
cial studv, the same as Latin and Greek are now acquired. 

When a boy I visited Lehigh County, where my grandfather, 
John Gernert, had settled, and where all my uncles and aunts were 
born and then lived, and I remember that it was then said that but 
few people outside of the towns and business centres could speak 
English, — and in no counties of Pennsylvania were the inhabi- 
tants so eminently German as in Lehigh, Berks, Lebanon and 
Northampton, — but now English is rapidly becoming the prevail- 
ing language, and there are comparatively few who do not speak 
English quite as readily as German. I was indeed amazed at the 
apparently universal change on a recent visit to these pioneer 
German counties. It is true I met many who still preferred to 
speak German, as if it were instinctively felt to be a misfortune 
that the endeared old mother tongue had to go the way that so 
many earthly things go, but English is the language of the land, 
of the courts and of the government, of the business world, and 
of the common schools, and all this, combined with the powerful 
influence of the excellent higher English educational institutions 
at Reading, Kutztown, Myerstown, Annville, Allentown. Bethle- 
hem and Easton, makes it inevitable that this section will at no 
very distant day be completely Anglicized. Indeetl, even in speak- 



74 The Gcnihardt Family History. 

ing German, it is significant of the impending destiny of the 
tongue that many of the vocables the Pennsylvania Germans now 
use are pure English words. 

It may indeed transpire in a few generations that the entire 
body of Pennsylvania Germans will become so Anglicized that 
thev will seldom be even longer spoken of as "Pennsylvania 
Dutch." Many families that we are acquainted with are now 
onlv known to be of German descent by their (often slightly 
changed) German names. It is ti'ue the Pennsylvania Germans 
hold on to their mother tongue with a remarkably strong and 
afifectionate retentiveness, and that the transformation antici- 
pated may possibly be delayed longer than I have thought, but it 
is evident to all who observe what is going on in the world of flesh 
that Fate has decided against all but English as the language of 
the American nation, and that all other dialects or languages 
must sooner or later forever disappear. The time will no doubt 
come when descendants of Heinrich and Rosine will read in this 
little volume — especially prepared only for them — of their Ger- 
man origin, and wonder at the destiny that has brought about such 
a radical transformation, though the same German blood still 
covirses in their veins. 

Indeed, may we not in imagination go a few long steps 
further, and conjecture of an age — and it may perhaps not be so 
very remote as many would think — when the world will have but 
one language, one system of weights and measures, one uniform 
order of coinage, one idea of the natural rights and social duties 
of man, one common sentiment as to the justice and conduct of 
nations, one thought as to the evil and uselessness of war, and 
the one faith that "the earth shall be full of the knowledge of the 
Lord, as the waters cover the sea." Is not this expectation every 
day taking a stronger hold of human Faith and Love ? Does not 
the world seem to be gradually getting ready for a great and 
universal change — which may come quickly when the time is 
ripe? Never in any age did the grand conception of Jesus, ex- 
pressed in various ways — once when He said, "Blessed are the 
meek, for they shall inherit the earth" — seem so plausible and 



Tlic Gcrnhardt Family Hislory. 75 

full of meaning as at the beginning of the twentieth century. If 
the rate of the world's wonderful progress in the nineteenth cen- 
tury is maintained, the advancement of this century towards such 
a desirable consummation will surely be very great. 

As Christian faith and influence is keeping pace in a general 
way with the increase of population and the general progress of 
the world, a word more as to the world's achievement may here 
be admissible. Books of intense interest relating to the inven- 
tions and discoveries of the last century have been published*, 
but 1 do not remember reading two mere paragraphs embracing 
so much as the following from a paper b}- Frederic Emory on 
"The Greater America," in The World's Work for December, 
1901 : 

"The fecundity of our people in invention, so greatly stimu- 
lated by our patent system, was but the natural outcome of our 
industrial absorption and eager activit}- in all forms of mechanical 
employment. Undoubtedly the individual wit was sharpened, the 
individual ambition stirred by the consequence we learned so soon 
to attach to material success. In his very valuable review of in- 
vention during the past century (in 'Progress of Invention in the 
Nineteenth Century'), ^Ir. Edward \V. Byrn presents a most in- 
teresting picture of 'the gigantic tidal wave of human ingenuity 
and resource' which has fructified human effort more widely and 
with more beneficent results in the United States than anywhere 
else in the world. At the beginning of the century, he says, 
James Watt had invented the steam engine, Eli Whitney had 
given us the cotton gin, John Gutenberg hail made his printing 
type, Franklin had set up his press. \\'e had the telescope, the 
mariner's compass and gunpowder, but inventive genius was still 
groping by the light of a tallow candle. There was still a lin- 
gering prejudice against invention, and 'a labor-saving machine 
was looked upon askance as the enemy of the laboring man.' Since 
then the benefits of invention have so amply proved themselves 
that to-day 'the inventor is a benefactor whom the world delights 
to honor.' There is liardK- an occupation, a i'»hase of life, in 



*"The Progress of the Century." 583 pp. Harper and Brothers. 1901. 
A series of remarkable articles by a number of eminent specialists. 

"The Wonderful Century." 400 pp. Dodd, Mead and Co. By Alfred 
Russel Wallace. An able review of the successes and some of the failures of the 
century. 



/ 



76 The Gernhardt Family History. 

which labor has not been made easier and more productive and 
individual comfort immensely promoted. 

"In the long roll of the nineteenth century's achievements we 
find the steamboat, the railroad, and a vast number of machines 
propelled by steam ; the air-brake, the sleeping car, the telegraph, 
the ocean cable, the telephone, the phonograph, the graphophone, 
the kinetoscope ; the fire and burglar alarm and messenger boy ser- 
vice ; the application of electricity in the production of light and 
power ; the cook stove, the coal oil lamp, the churn ; photography 
in its many forms ; the reaper, the mower, the thresher, the corn 
planter and a host of labor-saving implements for the farmer ; the 
sewing machine, the typewriter, the web perfecting press, the lino- 
type machine ; the gas engine, the elevator, the steam fire engine ; 
the great variety of useful articles made from India-rubber and 
celluloid ; the fire-proof safe, the ice machine and cold storage sys- 
tem ; the canning of vegetables, fruits, meats and oysters ; the 
stem-winding watch ; the use of iron and steel for house and ship 
building and for roofing ; the suspension bridge and tunnel ; the 
revolver, the repeating rifle, the quick-firing gun ; the ironclad war 
vessel ; the roller mill, the shoe machine, the hydraulic dredge; the 
Jacquard loom ; the artesian well, the friction match ; the use of 
anaesthetics and of antiseptics in surgery ; the making of false 
teeth and other achievements of dentistry ; the manufacture of 
artificial limbs and eyes ; the spectroscope, the X-ray apparatus ; 
and finally, the automobile with its promise of revolutionizing 
local transportation, and, perhaps, of furnishing the farmer with a 
convenient substitute for horse-power, or even steam, in plowing 
and otherwise cultivating his land and hauling its products to the 
market or the barn.'' 

It is impossible to comprehend all the changes in the manner of 
living since Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt, more than one hun- 
dred and thirty years ago, commenced their married life, and lived 
with their ten children in the forest of Northampton County, 
Their descendants now live in the most wonderful and promising 
era the world has ever yet seen ; an age that affords opportunity 
to enjoy more comforts, delight in more pleasures, travel more, 
see more, acquire more knowledge, and to know Earth and Man 
better, than any age since God gave his earthly Image dominion 
over all the earth. Every thoughtful descendant may be thankful 
that he did not live when they lived, nor live as they lived, but can 



The Gernhardt Family History. yy 

well rejoice that he was permitted tO' see this marvelous age of de- 
velopment and its golden opportunities. As to the future, the 
world now seems full of promise, though some signs appear to 
portend direful checks and wide-spread trouble before social and 
intellectual advancement can reach a much higher and l)roader 
level, when culture and refinement may become the inheritance of 
all, instead of being confined to the fortunate few of favored na- 
tions. But, when another century of invention, discovery and 
study, and missionary labor, has rolled by, the descendants who 
live then will understand the possibilities of social, political, and 
intellectual progress better than we, and they can better prophesy 
as to the future of our race. 

THE FIRST THREE GENERATIONS. 

To enable the younger kindred, and future descendants, the 
more readily to understand the rise and spread of the family, and 
to assist every one to trace and discern with ease his or her proper 
place in the line of descent, the following register of the first three 
generations is first here given separately. Although a member of 
the fourth generation, it took me many months to obtain the data 
to compile this epitomized record, which shows how we frail mor- 
tals drift apart on the restless sea of life and soon loose sight of 
nearly every genealogical landmark. The sixty^seven lineal de- 
scendants and the fifty-three consorts (one hundred and twenty 
souls) who comprised this first division of our household have 
nearly all passed the portal that leads to the land of rest and 
silence, as only five of the third generation are at this time still 
alive, and these few are all ripe sheaves ready to be gathered : 

HEINRICH GERNHARDTi. Born, it is believed, sometime 
between 1740 and 1745; died in the spring of 1820. 

ROSINE FETTERAIANi. Dates of birth and death not 
known. They were probably married about 1769 or 1770. They 
had ten children and fifty-five grandchildren, as follows: 

I. Magdalen A", b. Feb. 6, 1771 ; married Andrew Shafer, 
Feb. IT, 1794; died in the town of Sparta, Livingston County, N. 
Y., Alay 8, 1834. Two children: Henry^ and Elizabeth^. 



78 TJie Genihardt Family History. 

II. Jacob^, b. about 1773; was twice married; d. about 1813, 
at Fayette, Seneca County, N. Y. Eight children : George, Ja- 
cob, Susan, John, Daniel and Clarissa by first wife, and Lydia 
and Anna Maria by second wife. 



III. Anna Elizabeth^, b. April 3, 1776; d. July 8, 1854; 
never married. Lived with her brother Baltzer after her father's 
death. 



IV. Philip^, b. March i, 1779; twice married; second time 
to Magdalena Bieber ; d. June 9, 1843, at Muncy, Pa. Eight 
children : Catharine^ by first wife, and Rosena^, Sarah^, An- 
drew^, David^, Adam^, Hannah^, and*Maria^, by second wife. 



V. JoHN^, b. Oct. 21, 1780; m. Catharine Siegfried Brobst 
Aug. 20, 1805; d. Aug. 14, 1 85 1, in Upper Macungie, Lehigh 
County, Pa. Twelve children : Hannah^, Catharine-^, Jonas^, 
Anna Mary^, Nathan^, David^, Solomon^, Henry^, John^, Wil- 
liam^, Benjamin^, Reuben^. 



VI. Catharine^, b. Feb. 18, 1783; m. Peter Fogleman about 
1805 ; d. Sept. 3, 1840, in Delaware Township, Northumberland 
County, Pa. Five children : Mary^, John^, Elizabeth^, Cath- 
arine^, Peter^. 



VII. ^Iargaret2, b. Feb. 18, 1783. She and Catharine were 
twins; m. John Litchard about 1806; d. June 12, 1836, in the 
town of Sparta, Livingston County, N. Y. Ten children : Wil- 
liam^, David^, John^, George^, Elizabeth^, Mary^, Catharine^, 
Margaret^, Henry^, Benjamin^. 



VIII. Baltzer2, b. August, 1785 ; m. Anna C. Esbach aboiit 
1808; d. April 12, 1851. in Delaware Township, Northumber- 
land County, Pa. Five children: Mary^, John^, Benjamin^, 
Samuel^, Daniel^. 



The Gcnihanit Faniily History. 79 

IX. Anna Maria^, b. Sept. 17. i/S()[ m. Charles Williams 
about 18 — ; d. April 8, 1862, at Pekin, Niagara County, IM". Y. 
Four children : John^, Rozanna^, David^, Charles^. 



X. Susanna^, b. Sept. 24, 1789; m. George Mosteller about 
1823 ; d. Nov. 25, 1846, in Delaware Township, Northumberland 
County, Pa. One child : Rubet'^ who died in childhood. 

Had the task of preserving our family histor}- been commenced 
half a century ago. when many of the older members of the third 
generation were still alive, much interesting information pertain- 
ing to the early history of the family could have been gathered 
that is now lost. Uut what has been here garnered is nevertheless 
of definite interest, and will be of value to the future historians of 
the family. As but eight of Heinrich's children have become the 
heads of the families now existing, there are therefore just eight 
branches emanating from the primal trunk of our great and thrift}* 
American family tree These branches, with their numerous off- 
shoots, will each in turn hereinafter be separately represented, and 
as completely and up-to-date as it has been possible to obtain the 
necessary data. 

THE GROWTH OF THE FAMILY. 

Before presenting the records of the various branches of the 
family separately, and as fully as it was possible to get correct in- 
formation, some thoughts suggested b}- the wonderful growth ex- 
hibited by the increase of the first four generations — the fourth 
generation is now also full-grown — deserve serious consideration. 
jNIany of the fourth succession of descendants have already in turn 
been gathered unto their fathers, and those who are still alive are 
now called "the old folks." Many even of the fifth generation are 
turning gray, and, as will be seen l)y the records that follow, are 
now grandparents. A most interesting and surprising fact of the 
family histor}-, therefore, is the wonderful growth, which the fol- 
lowing formula exhibits : 

1st generation. 2nd gen. 3rd gen. 4th gen. 



PI. and R. 10 children. 55 grandc. 328 g. g. c. 



8o The Gcrnliardt Family History. 



The second generation, it will be observed, shows an increase 
o£ five times, the third generation in turn made a growth of tiz>e 
and one-half times — i e., along the Gernhardt line of descent — and 
the fourth generation on the same paternal line made a growth 
almost six times greater than the third. The number of the fifth 
and sixth generations is already immense, — ^the seventh is coming 
on at a rate very encouraging for the future of the family, — but as 
these individual successions are yet far from being all born, the 
ultimate figures are not yet available. But what a household for 
one pair to have in a few generations ! If Heinrich and Rosine 
were still living and could see all their children, grandchildren, 
and great-grandchildren — an aggregate of three hundred and 
ninety-three souls, not to mention several full regiments of the 
three younger sets — they would most surely be amazed. And if 
they could put on magic spectacles and see all their lineage of ten 
or fifteen or more generations, what would they think and say 
then ? It is worth while to consider for a moment the natural law 
of increase already instituted on the earth when God said to Adam 
and Eve, "Be fruitful and multiply, and replenish the earth." If 
Heinrich were still here he could certainly not complain that his 
descendants have to the present time failed to obey this divine 
command. 

To comprehend the actual rate of multiplication, and possibili- 
ties of generation, the following excerpt from Darwin's Origin of 
Species will be found especially helpful : 

"Although some species may now be increasing, more or less 
rapidly, in numbers, all cannot do so, for the world would not hold 
them. There is no exception to the rule that every organic being 
naturally increases at so high a rate that, if not destroyed, the 
earth would soon be covered by the progeny of a single pair. 
Even slow-breeding man has doubled in twenty-five years, and at 
this rate, in a few thousand years, there would literally not be 
standing-room for his progeny. Linn?eus has calculated that if an 
annual plant produced only two seeds — and there is no plant nearly 
so unproductive as this — and their seedlings next year produced 
two, and so on, then in twenty years there would be a million plants. 
The elephant is reckoned the slowest breeder of all known animals, 
and I have taken some pains to estimate its probable minimum 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 8i 

rate of natural increase: it will be safest to assume that it begins 
breeding" when thirty 3-ears old, and goes on lireeding till ninety 
years old, bringing forth six young in the interval, and surviving 
till one hundred years old ; if this be so, after a period of from 
seven hundred and forty to seven hundred and fifty years, there 
would be alive nearl\- nineteen million elephants descended from 
the first pair. But we have better evidence on this subject than 
mere theoretical calculations, namely, the numerous recorded 
cases of the astonishingl}' rapid increase of various animals in a 
state of nature, when circumstances have been favorable to them, 
during two or three following seasons. Still more striking is the 
evidence from our domestic animals of many kinds which have 
run wild in several parts of the world — if the statements of the 
rate of increase of slow-breeding cattle and horses in South Amer- 
ica, and latterly in Australia, had not been well authenticated, 
they wovdd have been incredible." 

Assuming that the increase of future generations of Heinrich's 
descendants wdll continue, the same in each succeeding generation, 
at the multiple rate of five — and this is not entirely a theoretical 
calculation, because, as already showai, it is somewhat less than 
the actual rate of increase of the family to the present time — then 
the followdng computation will exhibit what we also might see if 
we could look down the vale of time through magic glasses. 
Heinrich's and Rosine's descendants, actual and possible : 

« 

Children, increase 5 times 10 

Grandchildren, increase 51-2 times 55 

Great-grandchildren, increase almost 6 times.... 328 

Fifth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . . L'^HO 

Sixth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . . . 8,200 

Seventh generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . 41,000 

Eighth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . 205,000 

Ninth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . . 1,025,000 

Tenth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . 5,125,000 

Eleventh generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. 25,625,000 

Twelfth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times. . 128,125,000 

Thirteenth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times 640,625,000 

Fourteenth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times 3,203,125,000 

Fifteenth generation, increase reckoned at 5 times 16,015,625,000 



82 Tlic Gcrnhardt Family History. 

These are startling, but not at all visionary, figures. They 
present a problem for the most serious and practical of the kin- 
dred to meditate upon. The last sum in the computation is truly 
amazing. It is about twelve times greater than the highest esti- 
mated present population of the whole world. But recent investi- 
gations show a diminishing birth-rate among civilized peoples, 
and this seems to be the fact among the descendants of Heinrich. 
To allow a reasonable margin for possibly increasing checks to 
future growth, therefore, suppose we say that the fifteenth gener- 
ation will number but one-eighth of the above prodigious num- 
ber. This will allow for a vastly smaller birth-rate. But even 
then the descendants of Heinrich will in less than five hundred 
years still outnumber the present population of the earth by prob- 
ably six hundred millions. This may seem beyond all question 
incredible, but — again just look at the figures and think. Where 
is the calculation wrong? Why cannot the tenth, or twelfth, or fif- 
teenth generation, under the same favorable conditions, increase 
in the same geometrical ratio as the second, third and fourth 
generations ? That the blood of Heinrich and Rosine will in time 
be commingled with the blood. of such a prodigious host seems 
absolutely impossible, at first thought, it must be admitted, but 
do not the figures unmistakably look that way ? 

• 

This problem is not less curious and knotty, if we undertake 
to trace our lineage back a few centuries. The same puzzling 
question of the perpetual intermingling of blood confronts the 
understanding. Looking back, for instance, in imagination down 
the long and ever divergent line of ancestors from whom our late 
ancestor, Heinrich Gernhardt, descended, the question presents 
itself, how many kinds and dilutions of blood had he already in his 
own veins? Every human soul on earth has, or if dead has had, 
the blood of two parents. Heinrich was the offspring of two 
beings, the same as every one of his swarm of descendants. His 
father and mother each had twO' parents, and each of his grand- 
parents had two parents, thus giving him eight great-grandpar- 
ents. Each of the eight great-grandparentfe had two parents ; 
making sixteen great-great-grandparents ; the sixteen great- 



The Genihardt Faiiiily History. 83 

great-grandparents together had thirt\-t\vo parents, thus giving 
Heinrich sixty-four great-great-great-grandparents ; and but one 
more remove back gave our ancestor from Germany an admixture 
of the blood of no fewer than one hundred and twenty-eight great- 
great-great-great-grandparents. The number thus continues to 
double up every time with astonishing rapidity, in an order of ab- 
solutely natural geometrical progression. The following table — 
and figures it is conceded do not lie, if properly stated — will more 
clearly illustrate this amazing" truth : 

Heinrich had parents 2 

The parents each had two parents 4 

Great-grandparents 8 

Fourth generation of lineal ancestors 16 

Fifth generation of lineal ancestors 32 



Tenth generation of lineal ancestors i ,024 

Fifteenth generation of lineal ancestors 32,768 

Twentieth generation of lineal ancestors 1,048,576 

Twenty-fifth generation of lineal ancestors 33,554,432 

Twenty-sixth generation of lineal ancestors 67,108,864 

Twenty-seventh generation of lineal ancestors 134,217,728 

Total No. of 27 gen. of ancestors 268,435,454 

Two hundred and sixty-eight millions, four hundredand thirty- 
five thousand, and four hundred and fifty-four ancestors, in only 
twenty-seven generations ! Think of it ! This is a multitude of 
fathers and mothers beyond the mental grasp of the most capable 
human intellect. It is a number twice as great as the combined pop- 
ulation of all North and South America. And still greater is the 
wonder. Mother Rosine was just as well off as Father Heinrich 
in the matter of ancestors, as she also had two parents, four 
grandparents, eight great-grandparents, sixteen great-great-grand- 
parents, and a grand tc^tal of two luuidred and sixty-eight mil- 
lions, fom- hiuulred and tliirl\-five thousand, and foiu" hundred 



84 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

and fifty-four lineal ancestors in only twenty-seven generations. 
Therefore, the ten children of Heinrich and Rosine, having de- 
scended from both of these aggregations of ancestral lines, or, to 
use a common genealogical metaphor, as the two great roots united 
in the parents to form the stem of a great family tree, with its 
immense and forever bifurcating roots and branches, they (the ten 
children) had just double the number of ancestors that either one 
of their parents had ; and hence they had the magnificent array of 
five hundred and thirty-six millions, eight hundred and seventy 
thousand, and nine hundred and eight ancestors in the same 
twenty-seven generations — a multitude equal to the present popu- 
lation of all America and Europe combined. Just think ! 

And this calculation does not go back nine hundred years. 
What space and figures it would require to construct a table for 
six thousand years, or for two hundred generations. Of a com- 
plete biographical record of all our ancestors, along all lines, back 
to the beginning of the race, it may almost be said, as is said at 
the close of the Gospel according to St. John of the things that 
the Son of Man did, viz., "if they should be written every one, 
I suppose that even the world itself could not contain the books 
that should be written." But if we go back so far, where were 
all the millions upon millions of ancestors, and where did they 
come from, if every mortal, of every generation that ever existed, 
had two parents? Now the puzzling part of this riddle is, that 
when we get back to Adam and Eve there were, as we are con- 
stantly being assured, only tzvo ancestors for the whole human 
family. 

The breaks or laps in the ancestral lines of descent; the cross 
hnes, that must at some time continuously diminish, and not for- 
ever multiply ; the intermingling lines oi progenitors that seem to 
double forever, although the whole human race may have issued 
from a single pair, is a problem that is left for others to solve. 
The most important fact in the question to us all is that God — 
even if there were various centers of creation, as many think — 
made all the families of the earth of One Blood and of the same 
Earth. We all share alike in respect to human nature, and rights, 



The- Gernhardt Family History. 85 



equality, opportunity and destiny. .Vll men, as the fathers at the 
Declaration of Independence declared, arc by birth equal, and are 
endowed with the same inalienable rights, among which are Life, 
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. All are closely and con- 
stitutionally related, and all have the blood of the high and the 
low flowing in their veins. Is it not folly, therefore, for any one 
to boast or think himself better or meaner than his fellows be- 
cause of his birth? God is no respecter of persons, and why 
should we be ? This is the important lesson for us descendants of 
Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt. It does not matter who our 
ancestors in Europe or America were, as every one must work 
out his own destiny, and answer for his own deeds. As John the 
Baptist said unto the Pharisees and Sadducees who were silly 
enough to pride themselves because of their pedigree, "Think 
not to say within yourselves. We have Abraham to our father. 
* =i= * Every tree which bringeth not forth good fruit will be 
cut down and cast into the fire." 

"Consider, man; weigh well thy frame, 
The king, the beggar, are the same; 
Dust form'd us all. Each breathes his day, 
Then sinks into his native clay." 

THE LAW OF INHERITANCE. 

There is no essential relation between a name and worth. If 
by act of Assembl}-, or otherwise, a man has his cognomen 
changed, that does not in the least affect the blood, the vital and 
mental inheritance, or character. The blood, or pedigree, remains 
the same, no matter how the name is changed, or how a person 
is raised and educated. Beginning with the family of Heinrich 
and Rosine, their children were just as much Fettermans by blood 
as Gernhardts — and possibly more so, considered in the light of 
embryology. During the period of gestation the child is built up 
cell by cell and tissue upon tissue from the mother's blood alone, 
and after birth for months normally receive all its nourishment 
from the mother's breast. And this admixtiu^e of blood, like a 
great flowing river, made up of drops of water from a thousand 
tributaries and springs, goes or. forever. 



86 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



In the third generation we see that the Gernhardt-Fetterman 
blood is intermingled with that of the Shafers, Cramers, Shetter- 
leys, Biebers, Siegfrieds, Foglemans, Litchards, Esbachs, Wil- 
liams and Mostellers. If we could see into the future and follow 
up all the lines of descent that from here diverge, and look back 
and see all the lines of lineage that here converge, we would soon 
be lost in a bewildering maze of lineal and collateral lines. In tilie 
fourth generation we see that the genealogical tree has spread out 
its branches much further stilf — or the stream has grown much 
bigger by the inflow of many tributaries — so that the blood-kin- 
ship, as the records that follow show, now includes the Klines, 
Frantzes, Bolanders, Goshorns, Lilleys, Hunts, Wistermans, 
Friedleys, Crugers, Collers, Mecums, Cruses, Waltons, Lymans, 
Donmoyers, Hinterleiters, Zieglers, Gachenbachs, Bortzes, Steinin- 
gers, Mohrs, Eisenharts, Grosses, Straubs, Hinkles, Treons, Har- 
lemans, Bakers, Freys, Bucks, Seeses, Moritzes, Parsons, Martzes, 
Hoffmans, Smiths, Tuckers, Buzzles, Millers, Keihles, Steffys, 
Ameses, Clemonses, Ingolsons, Kinmans, and LeVans. In the 
fifth generation the blood of Heinrich and Rosine is now being 
intermingled and diluted with so many other families that it would 
tax ones memory to remember them all In the sixth and seventh 
generations, now coming on the stage to act their parts in the 
great drama of life, and in the succeeding generations, the stream 
of consanguinity will spread out still wider and wider, until 
finally the Gernhardt-Fetterman blood will flow in the veins of 
hdndreds of millions of descendants. If the children of Heinrich 
and Rosine only twenty-five generations back had 536,870,908 an- 
cestors by simply doubling, how many descendants will Heinrich 
and Rosine themselves have in say fifty generations hence, if 
the rate of increase of each succession of progeny continues to be 
fivefold? The reader who has plenty of time and patience can 
work this sum out for himself. Surely, the whole world must be 
related. Just think ! 

That there is a law of inheritance is evident, but how far it 
governs life, and is itself governed by the ever varying conditions 
of life, is not so well known Why some peculiarities occur in 



The Gcrnliardt Family History. 87 

some persons and not in others in the same family is still an 
egima. That particular features, traits antl characters are often 
transmitted in a marked degree, and sometimes through many 
generations, is well understood ; but why the same traits and 
characters are often not visibly transmitted, or sometimes only to 
one sex, or appear only at certain corresponding periods of life, 
no one can satisfactorily explain. It is, however, believed 'that 
every one inherits in some degree, if not always in a manifest 
degree, the physical and psychical characteristics of his parents ; 
that each of the parents in the same variable degree inherited 
their traits and qualities from their ancestors — back even to Adam ; 
and that all the yet unborn generations will continue to inherit in 
the same way. This is the law that Emerson seems to have had 
in mind when he Wrote that, "Man is but the sum of his ances- 
tors." Yet children are never absolutely like either their parents 
or distant ancestors. No two human beings were ever precisely 
alike. A strange and confusing world this would be if all were 
positively alike, alike in thought, feeling, action, appearance, and 
stature. But every one is a more or less variable reproduction and 
representation of his parents. Not one is an original and inde- 
pendent creation, but each is a special embryological evolution 
from his ancestors, like all the other creatures of earth that walk, 
fly, creep and swim. 

My grandfather, John Gernert, had three daughters and nine 
sons, and I was often impressed when but a mere lad by certain 
indescribable peculiarities of features and mind — and I sometimes 
thought of voice — that they all possessed, in variable degree, and 
I wondered, and still wonder, how and whence they were derived. 
The greatest number of inheritances are probably never noticed, 
being too slight or too much overshadowed by predominating 
features and qualities to be easily observed ; but they are believed 
to exist nevertheless, and that they are all liable to "crop out" and 
become prominent from time to time. In other words, each one 
may be the sum of his ancestors, but the component elements of 
each sum become so exceedingly attenuated and mixed up that we 
can neither trace nor comprehend them. My deceased daughter. 



88 The Gcnihardt Family History. 



Lydia, when a year old, bore a striking resemblance of feature to 
her maternal grandmother; before she was six years old not a 
vestige of the likeness was perceivable, and her cast of face be- 
came distinctively Gemerd ; though through all her life there were 
certain peculiarities in her walk and posing that constantly brought 
into mind her mother's paternal grandmother. 

It has been asked. May not some inheritances become so attenu- 
ated by successive generations of inter-crossing, as to lose all 
power and significance, and finally disappear altogether, just as 
they may also sometimes gradually or spontaneously appear ? On 
the other hand, like the Hahnemann idea of medicines, that their 
curative virtue increases as they become more attenuated, it has 
also been supposed that the dilution of the blood of our ancestors 
has not destroyed its nature and power. It is generally believed 
that our physical and psychical nature has come down to us 
through hundreds of generations from Adam and Eve. Some of 
Hahnemann's disciples it is said were so thoroughly convinced of 
the potency of the infinitesimally attenuated in medicines as to in- 
sist tliat the mere smelling of them is often enough to- effect won- 
derful results — smells certainly sometimes make people sick — and 
that most salutary effects have even been attained by the mere 
holding of medicines in the hand in tightly closed vessels. At all 
events, if this supposed virtue is but the effect of imagination — a 
kind of Faith Cure — may it not nevertheless be true biologically 
that ancestral blood does not lose its properties, though it may not 
always be manifest to our perceptions, by being diluted from gen- 
eration to generation. One thing at least seems certain, viz., that 
every one of us, according to the accepted belief, and as the figures 
already given plainly enough show, has in his veins the blood, or 
inherited qualities, of more than 536,870,908 ancestors, who all 
lived within a period of one thousand years. And this is alike 
true of every other family in the land. And also, if we are all 
of "one blood," then has not each one in his veins the blood of the 
best, as well as the blood of the meanest, of the race ? And are not 
all included in the apostolic asseveration, "As is the earthy, such 
are they also that are earthv?" If Adam really fell from a state 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 89 

of perfection and through sin became an imperfect and corrupt 
being, does it not follow that our imperfections are inheritances, 
and have come down to us through a long line of ancestors ? Why, 
indeed, "should the spirit of mortal be proud?" 

I. 

MAGDALENA SHAFER BRANCH. 

MAGDALENA2, the first born of the ten children of Hein- 
rich and Rosine, when 23 years of age married Andrew Shafer, in 
Lehigh Township, February 11, 1794, just fourteen months before 
her parents disposed of the family birthplace in Northampton 
County. She and her husband almost immediately after marri- 
age migrated, as already stated, to Turbot Township, Northum- 
berland County, as is evident from a baptismal record we found 
in the possession of her grandson, John Shafer, which shows that 
his father, Henry, their firstborn, was christened in that township 
on the 8th day of December of that same year. Precisely where 
they lived — Turbot was at that date a large territory, comprising 
what now forms half a dozen townships — has not been ascertained, 
but it is presumed that they resided in what is now Delaware 
Township. Many Northampton County Germans had then already 
settled in this section, as already mentioned, and it is believed that 
Magdalena and her husband follow'ed some families hither with 
whom they were already acquainted. 

About 181 2, after having resided in Turbot Township eighteen 
years, when their son and daughter, Henry and Elizabeth, were 
respectively aged 18 and 15, the spirit of migration once more 
moved them, and they now followed the strong tide of German 
settlers of Pennsylvania that had for some years been steadily 
flowing to the fertile lands of central and western New York, 
then widely known as the "Seneca" and "Genesee country," once 
part of the domain of the powerful and troublesome Six Nations. 
Jacob, Magdalena's brother, as will be mentioned further on, liad 
already eight years before migrated to Seneca County. They 
concluded to go further west and finally settled in the town — or 



^o The Gernhardt Family History. 

township, as we say in Pennsylvania — of Sparta, then a district of 
Ontario, but since 1821 a part of Livingston County, about four 
miles north-east of the village of Dansville, on a tract of land now 
owned by their great-grandson, Franklin Monroe Shafer^, and 
which seems likely to remain in the famil}; name many years 
longer. The family now consisted of five persons, including the 
little orphan niece, Catharine, mentioned in Heinrich's will, who 
had been given to Magdalena by her brother Philip, being the only 
child by his first wife. A small log cabin was their home and 
furnished shelter for years, while breaking the land and enduring 
the usual hardships and privations of pioneer life. But the life- 
struggle was no longer also subject to the dread of the tomahawk 
and scalping knife, as during the period when Magdalena was a 
little girl and Indian depredations and murders were common 
events. 

Andrew Shafer was born in Germany, January 31, 1758, and 
died in Sparta, April 2, 1846, at the advanced age of 88 years, 2 
months and 2 days. Alagdalena died May 8, 1834, in her 64th 
year. The bodies of the twain, who in life were as one, lie moul- 
dering side by side in an old graveyard near the center of Sparta, 
one mile or more north of the place on which they had lived, and 
which place had been bought and bequeathed to her by her father. 
Elizabeth, their only daughter, was born March 16, 1797, died 
September 18, 1816, and was never married. Fortunate it was for 
IN.Iagdalena, therefore, that she had kindly adopted the bereaved 
child Catharine into her family. Henry^, her only son, was born 
December 8, 1794, and died June 14, 1878, in his 84th year; and it 
is through him alone, therefore, that the Magdalena branch of the 
Gernhardt family is perpetuated. He was twice married, first to 
Maria Magdalena Kline, August 8, 1820, who died September 10, 
1832, and next to her sister, Susanna Kline, Feb. 7, 1833, whose 
death occurred June 9, 1866. All are buried in the M. E. Church 
ground, one mile north of the first mentioned graveyard. Henry's 
six children, sixteen grandchildren, and sixteen great-grandchil- 
dren constitute the oldest, but also the smallest, of the (existing 
branches of Heinrich's and Rosine's great family tree. His de- 
scendants : 



TJic Gcnihardt Faiiiily History. 91 

I. George Shafer*, b. in Sparta, Nov. 22, 1821 ; m. Alary 
demons, of Sparta, Dec. 28, 1843. He died at Dansville, 
N. Y., March 16, 1874, and his wife survived him until in 
March, 1898. He served four terms as the Supervisor of 
the town of Sparta, and for twenty-seven consecutive years 
held the ofhce of Justice of the Peace at Dansville. Once 
when spending several hours at Dansville I heard the re- 
mark made that he was a very popular and capable officer — 
the truth of this is evident from the fact that he held the 
office so long" — and that he had more records in the Living- 
ston County Court than all the lawyers of the place of that 
period combined. His children and grandchildren : 

i. Edivin Jefferson Shafer'°, b. Oct. 8, 1844; m. Lucy V. 
Feathers, of Amnity, Allegheny County, N. Y., Dec. 4, 
1874; n. c. ; r. Holdrege, Nebraska. 

ii. Susan Elizabeth S.^, b. July 12, 1846; m. Edward 
Kelly, of Farmersville, Canada, Sept. 24, 1868; r. Hol- 
drege, Neb. One son : George Edward Kelly'', b. Aug. 
19, 1872; d. Nov. 25, 1878. 

in. John Madison S.^, b. June 26, 1848; d. in infancy. 

iv. Endress Monroe Shafer^, b. Dec. 5, 1849 J "i- I*^^ Myers, 
February, 1892; n. c. 

V. Ranions S.^, b. April 7, 1852 ; d. in infancy. 

z'i. Rhoda Adelaide S."^, b. April 7, 1853 ; m. Joseph W. 
Burgess, of Dansville, August, 1873; d. Sept. 20, 1875. 

vii. Andrew Jaekson Shafer^, b. Dec. 12, 1855 ; m. Laura 
V. Steinhardt, June 15, 1892; n. c. Held the office of 
Justice of the Peace at Dansville from 1878 to 1S82. 
Removed to Holdrege, Nebraska, where his brother, 
Edwin, and sister Susan had located. Was elected 
County Attorney in 1890, and served five terms, initil 
January, 1901. Is counseller at law. The following 
from the papers of his former home (Dansville, N. Y.,) 
and his present home (Holdrege) is gratifying testi- 
mony regarding his ability and probity : 

"Mr. Shafer was born in Sparta, in this county, and studied 
law in the office of the late John Wilkinson, and with Faulker & 
Bissel, in this village. He was admitted to the bar in 1880, and 
after practicing here a short time he went to Holdrege, Nebraska, 
his present residence, and at once began a political career that has 



92 The Gernhardt Faiiiily History. 



been honorable and profitable. The Weekly Progress, published 
at Holdrege, says of him : 'The candidate for the office of County 
Attorney this year, Andrew J. Shafer, is the old reliable. He is 
the present incumbent of that office and has been for the past 
eight consecutive years. This fact in itself not only renders an 
introduction unnecessary, but it is a most enviable testimonial in 
behalf of Mr. Shafer's administration of the office and his ability 
as a lawyer. It is needless to say that he is a staunch Populist or 
a fearless advocate of the party principles, for none have ever 
questioned his political integrity, while he has earnestly and boldly 
fought for the reforms demanded by the common people in every 
campaign since he became affiliated with the party. His official 
conduct is equally commendable. It has been characterized by re- 
markable legal ability, cleanness and efficiency throughout the en- 
tire eight vears, and it is a highly commendable fact, beyond the 
criticism of political opposition. Notwithstanding his long service 
hi the office of County Attorney, there is absolutely no^ reason why 
he '"'ould not be his own successor.' " 

2. John Shafer^, b. Feb. 9, 1824; m. Hannah Hamsher, of 
Sparta, Jan. 24, 1850. She d. Feb. 4, i8g8. He d. April i, 
1903. A Dansville paper, referring to his death, said : 

"The genial, kindly face of 'Squire John Shafer will be sadly 
missed from our streets. A good man went to his reward when 
he died. Although in his eightieth year, Mr. Shafer had been 
active and about among men, and it was only a short time ago 
that he was in town shaking hands with his friends. He was 
born on a farm that his father, Henry Shafer, hewed out of the 
primeval wilderness in the early part of the last century. Here 
he lived a sincere, simple life, beloved and respected by his neigh- 
bors ; here his children were born and reared, to become useful 
citizens ; here his beloved wife died in 1898, and here he passed 
away, leaving a record any one might envy." 

Reference has already been made to the correspondence had 
with this respected kinsman, and to the lively and encouraging in- 
terest he at once took in the proposed family History. Having 
received very cordial invitations to make him and his people a 
visit, I went to his place in October, 1898, and spent three days 
with him most delightfully. I found him comfortably situated in 
the evening of his life, enjoying the fruits of years of industry 
and frugality, and the respect of everybody around him. His only 




JOHN SHArER4, DANSVILLE, N. Y. 

J824-1903. 




"KANK M. .-llAKi;ii'' AND FAMILY, 
liANSVII.I.i:. X. V. 



The Genihai'dt Family History. 93 

daughter had then been dead thirteen years, and he was mourning 
the demise of his wife, who had been dead only about eight 
months. RecalHng his tender allusions to the departed brings to 
mind the lines : 

"There is iu life no blessing like alTection; 
It soothes, it hallows, elevates, subdues, 
And bringeth down to earth its native heaven: — 
Life has naught else that may supply its place." 

His son Frank and wife were keeping house for him and farm- 
ing the homestead — the place that Frank's grandparents and great- 
grandparents had each wrought to "hew out of the primeval wil- 
derness" — to wdiich fifty acres more had been added, making a 
large and valuable farm, under a state of cultivation and with im- 
provements that indicated the use of brains as well as of busy 
hands. He also owned another valuable farm in Sparta, on which 
his eldest son, James A., then resided, and now owns. 

This venerable great-grandson of Heinrich and Rosine, with 
whom I afterwards had an opportunity to become still better ac- 
cpainted, was found to be not only a "good man," with "a record 
any one might envy," but one who was in more than one sense a 
remarkable and successful man, with eyes ever open to see what 
useful thing he could make, or wdiere he could improve things. In 
a work-shop well stocked with tools, turning lathe, etc., he spent 
much of his time, as the w^^rk of the farm permitted. A rivulet 
issuing from a strong and never-failing spring on the farm, that 
flows through a depression in the land near the shop, he titilized 
by making a pond, at the overflow of which he constructed a 
chute, and placed an overshot wheel between five and six feet in 
diamatcr and tw^o feet wdde. wdiich furnished him with power for 
various mechanical uses. The w'heel he connected with the house 
kitchen by a line of wire so arranged as to do duty also in churn- 
ing butter. A full description of his numerous mechanisms and 
inventions would require more space than can here be spared. 
Never in mv travels have I met a man, who never was an appren- 
tice, and lived all his life on a farm, who showed such aptitude for 
making anvthing that he needed on his premises. A curious auto- 



94 The Gcnihardt Family History. 

matic Tally Board, that he designed many years ago for counting 
sheaves in threshing, interested me very much. Every time fifty 
sheaves were counted the number was registered until 850 sheaves 
were recorded, and then the tally commenced again at figure one. 
If patented when made, if patentable, this might have been a 
source of income, as he could have made it of almost any capacity, 
and adapted it to various uses ; but he had less ambition to obtain 
and sell patent-rights than he had to contrive and construct. A 
Lard Press that he designed forty or more years ago, which was 
supposed to be new and patentable, has ever since been doing good 
service on his farm and throughout the neighborhood. Another 
ingenious contrivance is a Pleating Machine for dressmaking and 
millinery work, that he had made for his wife, who it seems was 
also quite defty with the needle. She had one of the earliest 
Wheeler and Willson sewing machines, and for this he constructed 
seven different attachments, for binding skirt bottoms, working 
right and left, a wide and narrow hemmer, wide tape-binder, etc., 
which, if not at the time patentable, at least showed his wonderful 
fertility in expedients, and for neatness would have done credit to 
any worker in metal. 

One invention, now forty years old, on which he was induced 
to take out letters patent, was a machine for dropping and cover- 
ing corn, beans, and broom-corn seed. This in that era should 
have been to him a source of considerable revenue, but his ill luck 
was to deed a half interest to a man who commenced to scheme 
and work only for himself, and this so disgusted him that he re- 
fused to do anything or allow anything to be done with it. It was 
so planned that three or four of the machines could be attached 
to one frame, which would have made it especially desirable for 
western lands. His son Frank still plants his corn every spring 
with the first machine he made^ and the same machine has planted 
many acres from time to time for the neighbors. 

A Southern planter, a patient at the Dansville Sanitarium, one 
day chanced to see the seeder at work, and noting its efficiency 
wanted to know if Mr. Shafer could make a machine to plant cot- 
ton seed as well, saying that the machine he had did not do good 



TJic Gcni/iardt Family History. 95 

work, as the seed would pack, and owinj^ to its adhesive nature 
would not drop properly. Mr. Shafer said that if he had some 
cotton seed to experiment with he thought he perhaps could. 
Soon a lot of seed came, with the assurance that if he could make 
a perfect cotton-seed dropper a fortune was ready for him. .Vfter 
several experiments he had a handsome niodel planter ready, 
which he believed would do the work perfectly. He was now 
ready, hoping and fearing, for the final trial of the machine in the 
cotton fields. One morning he received word that his friend the 
planter had suddenly fallen ill and was taken to his home, and 
two weeks later came the news of his death. Inventor Shafer, as 
already stated, was not a patent-right financier, and no further 
effort was ever made to bring the machine forward. The way he 
bore the disappointment appears from a remark he made to a 
friend, "If it had been a great success it might have made me 
proud and wicked." 

No matter what Farmer Shafer wanted, he had the tact to 
make it. Whether it was in the line of cabinet-making, chair-mak- 
ing, plane-making, wagon making, coopering, carpentering, black- 
smithing, no matter what, it seemed all the same to him. Alanv 
}'ears ago, when in harvesting the raking intO' sheaves was done 
with the hand-rake, he devised and made what he called a Buggy 
Rake, — the wheels of which were 2 1-2 feet high, the axles 5 1-2 
feet long between the hubs, and the bent wooden fingers 51-2 feet 
long, — which also proved a useful labor-saving machine, and for 
which he possibly at that time might also have obtained letters 
patent, had his ambition inclined that way. Once he mentally 
thought out a plan of a machine for sawing shingles. A friend 
who owned a saw mill heard him explain his idea, and was so im- 
pressed that he immediately gave him an order for a machine. In 
the course of a few weeks the thing was at work making shingles, 
and that it was a success is attested b}- the fad that it was kept at 
work right along for about twelve years. Men do not become skill- 
ful mechanics and of inventive turn merely by being taught; many 
who have all needed instruction never become in the best sense 
skilled ; but must have innate or inborn ingenuity and mechanical 



p6 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



aptitude. It is giving good advice to the descendants of Heinrich 
Gcrnhardt to admonish them to study the procHvities of their 
children, and never determine what they must be, until they know 
what talents nature has given them, and what they are best suited 
to be. 

Mr. John Shafer had children and grandchildren : 

i. James Alfred 6".°, b. Dec. 21, 1850; m. Rosa E. Carney, 
Oct. 22, 1874. Two children: J. Carl S.*^, b. June 6, 
1886; Eva Lena S.*^, b. March 26, 1890. 

ii. Martha Saphrona 5".^, b. Oct. 9, i860; m. Dec. 29, 1881 ; 
d. June 15, 1885 ; n. c. 

Hi. Franklin Monroe S.^, h. June 22, 1868; m. Augusta 
Lena Tucker, June 14, 1888. Three children: Claire 
Almond S.^, h. April 16, 1889; Maude Angeline S.*^, b. 
Oct. 8, 1894; Francis Martha S.^ b. Sept. 7, 1898. 

3. Barbara S."*, b. May 12, 1826; d. Sept. 9, 1829. 

4. Anna Magdalena S.*, b. April 17, 1829; d. Oct. 8, 1832. 

5. Andrew Shafer^, b. Feb. 28, 1832; m. Elizabeth J. Kuhn, 

Dec. 25, 1856. He d. Dec. 19, 1896. She d. May 28, 1880. 
Had children and grandchildren : 

i. Emma Rosalind S.^, h. June 2, 1857 ; m. Heman H. 
Johns, Dec. 18, 1879. Five children : 

a. George A. K.^, b. Oct. 18, 1880. 

b. Elizabeth S. K.\ b. Nov. 18, 1882. 

c. Ernest L. V. K.\h. Feb. 28, 1887; d. Nov. 6, 1888. 

d. Herr Maxzvell K.^, b. Oct. 24, 1889 ; d. Dec. 19, 1890. 

e. Leon Lester KS\ b. Nov. 3, 1851. 

ii. Mary Eli::abeth S.^, b. June i, 1859; m. Heman A. Mil- 
ler, Jan, 18, 1882. Children : Samuel Ross M.^, b. Feb. 
13, 1883; Heman M.^, b. May 16, 1888; Maude Ange^ 
line M.6, b. Jan. 29, 1894; Mary Elizabeth M.^, b. Aug. 
29, 1897. 

Hi. Hattic Mabel S.^, b. Feb. 14, 1872; m. Chas. M. Shafer, 
Feb. 3, 1897; "• c. 

iv. George Ernst S.^, b. Dec. 13, 187.6; m. Belle Sams, 
Nov. 18, 1897. 



Tlic Gcniliardt Family History. 97 

V. Edzvard Harold S.^, b. Sept. 23, 1878; d. March 31, 
1880. 

Angeline S."*, daughter by Susanna, second wife of Henry, 
was born Oct. 13. 1834; m. Francis Altmire, of Dansville, 
April 19, 1878. Altmire d. June 24, 1896. She still lives 
in Dansville. One son: Albin Alden Altmire^, b.^; m. 
Miss Catharine Riley, Jan. 7, 1897; r. Dansville. One 
daughter: Catharine Angeline Altmire^, b. Jan. 7, 1901. 



II. 

JACOB GARNET BRANCH. 

Of Heinrich's eldest son, Jacob, we have learned but little be- 
sides the few facts already mentioned. After finding him men- 
tioned in his father's will, several years elapsed, despite of constant 
inquiries, before it was ascertained that he had settled and spent 
the rest of his days in the township of Fayette, Seneca County, N. 
Y., and that he had many descendants in New York, Ohio, Michi- 
gan and other states. Many months after having learned what 
had become of all his brothers and sisters, there was still no trace 
of him, and finally it became a common thing among the members 
of the other branches to refer to him as the "Lost Jacob." How 
soon a mortal may thus be forgotten by his own kindred in this 
world of never-ending changes. But at last a clue was happily 
found that brought the forgotten back to remembrance. A corre- 
spondent of the author wrote that she had heard that there was an 
old man living in Lockport, N. Y., by the name of Jacob Garnet 
(since deceased), and wondered if he were not of that branch of 
our kindred. A letter addressed to him was dispatched forthwith, 
and in due time it was found that he was indeed a scion (a grand- 
son) of the long "lost Jacob." 

The state of New York after the War of the Revolution ac- 
quired a large area of fertile territory by a treaty with the Cayuga 
and Onondago Indian tribes, and in 1790 and later this very desir- 
able land v^as laid out into townships (or "towns." as such tli vi- 
sions are called in that state) and lots, and at the close of the eigh- 



98 



The Gernhardt Family History. 



teenth and beginning of the nineteenth centuries there was a rush 
of settlers to occupy these lands. Among the colonists were many 
Pennsylvania Germans. A partial list of the early German settlers 
of Seneca County from this province was furnished by the Hon. 
Diedrich Willers, of Fayette, in 1898, to "Notes and Queries," ed- 
ited bv Dr. William H. Egle, of Harrisburg, Pa. It is reproduced 
here as being of general interest to the descendants of Heinrich 
and Rosine, not only because it contains the name of Jacob Gernet 
(the original family name, Gernhardt, is in the church and court 
records of Seneca County found spelled in various ways, as Gernet, 
Gernert, Gerner, Gernhart, Garnhart, Garnart, Garnet and Garnett, 
the same as it is represented by alphabetic characters by the other 
branches of the lineage), and all are familiar Pennsylvania names, 
but because of the family intermarriages with so many of the fam- 
ilies they represent, and also because they serve to illustrate the 
mutations to which family names have been so liable, as explained 
in a preceding chapter. Many of the original surnames are given 
in brackets : 



Acker, Jacob 

Addams, Jacob 

Allemann, Jacob 

Ansberger, John (Ernstberger) 

Bacher, Jacob 

Bachmann, George 

Balliet, Charles 

Beal, David (Biehl) 

Bear, Samuel (Baer) 

Beck, Thomas 

Becker, John 

Berger, Joseph 

Bieche, Jacob (Biegi) 

Biery, Henry ( Beary) 

Blasser, Christian 

Bolender, Phillip 

Bookman, Peter (Buchmann) 

Bordner, Benj. 

Brickley, John 

Burkhalter, Mary 

Corl, Isaac (Carl) 

Crobach, George (Croubach) 

Deal, Peter (Diehl) 



Lautenschlager, Joshua, son of 

Jacob 
Lerch, Anthony 
Litzenberger, Peter 
Lutz, Reuben 
Marckel, John (Merckle) 
Marsteller, Elizabeth 
Mattern, Jacob 
M auger, Henry 
Maurer, John 
Menges, Conrad 
Mertz, George 
Metzger, Martin 
Alichel, John (Michael) 
Mickley, Edward B. 
Miller, Ludwig 
Motz, Jacob 

Moyer, Charles (Mayer) 
Nioss, George (Niess) 
Nothnagle, George 
Peters, Philip 
Paffenberger, Daniel 
Pontius, John 



Thc^ Gcnihardt Family History. 



99 



Deisinger, Nicholas 

Deppen, John 

Derr, Charles 

Deshler, John 

Dreher, Peter 

Emerich, John 

Eshenour, John (Eschenauer) 

Esterly, George (Esterlee) 

Farber, Alichael (Tarber) 

Fatzinger, Samuel (son of Jacob) 

Fell, John 

Ferst, George (Fuerst) 

Fessler, Benjamin 

Fetzer, Daniel 

Fisher, John S. (Fischer) 

Flickinger, Jacob 

Frankenfield, George (Franken- 

feld) 
Frantz, John 
Frey, John (Frei) 
Friedley, George (Friedle) 
Fusselmann, J. 
Gambee, Jacob (Gambi) 
Gamber, John 
Ganger, George 
Gaumer, Charles 
Gernet, Jacob (Gernhardt) 
Goodman, Benjamin (Gutmann) 
Gross, Joseph B. 
Hahn, James A. 
Hartranft, Jacob 
Hassinger, Frederick 
Heck, Jacob 
Hecker, Henry 
Heckmann. Nathan 
Hilkert, John (Hilgert) 
Himmelbnrger, George 
Hinterleiter. George 
Hittel, Bartholomew 
Hoffmann, Charles 
Hofstetter, Adam 
Holben. Christian 
Holman, Daniel (Hallmann) 
Hoover, Valentine (Htiber) 
Hoster. Christian 
Hummel. Benjamin 
Hunsicker, Joseph 



Pratz, Philip (Pretz) 

Rathfon, Frederick 

Reader, Jacob (Roeder) 

Reed, William (Ried) 

Reichenbach, Reuben 

ReifTschneider, Philip 

Reinhart, John 

Rhoad, Daniel 

Riegel, Jacob 

Reimer, George 

Ritter, Michael 

Robinold, John 

Romig, Samuel (Romich) 

Rothenburger, Jacob 

Ruch, Christian 

Saeger, Daniel 

Sammel, Stephen 

Savage, William (Sauvage) 

Schad, George (Schaud) 

Schaefifer, George 

Schankweiler, Henry 

Schick, David 

Schlottmann, Daniel 

Schneck, Adam 

Schott, Frederick 

Schroyer, Peter 

Schwab, Daniel 

Schwartz, Jacob 

Schweitzer, John 

Sell, Jacob (Zell) 

Seybolt, Jacob 

Shane, Jacob (Schoen) 

Sheffort. George (Schoeffert) 

Sherodin, Daniel (Sheradine) 

Shiley, George (Scheile) 

Shoemaker, John (Schumacher) 

Seidler, John 

Siegfried, Joseph 

Singer, Henry 

Smith, Jacob (Schmidt) 

Snvder. Anthonv (Schneider) 

Spaid, John (Spate) 

Spoon, Daniel (Spohn) 

Springer, William 

Stadler. Eliabeth 

Stahl. Peter 

Steiningcr, Christian 



lOO 



The GcrnJiardt Fainilv Historv. 



Illick, Frederick (Illig) 

Jacoby, John (Jacobi) 

Kime, Christian (Keim) 

Kemmery, James (Kammerer) 

Kendig, Martin 

Kennard, Wilham 

Kennell, John 

Kern. Wilham 

Kerschner, George W. 

Kessler, Adam 

Kidd, George 

Kieffer, Henry 

Kistler, Jacob 

Knauss, Benjamin 

Kohler, Peter 

Roller, Emanuel 

Kroninger, Sylvester 

Kuney, John (Knni) 

Koons, David (Kuntz) 

Lahr, Henry (Lohr) 

Landis, Henry 

Langs, John 

Laub, Conrad 



Stofflet, Ludwig 
Straub, George 
Strayer, Matthias 
Strouse, Thomas (Strauss) 
Stuck, Matthias (Stock) 
Stucker, Samuel (Stocker) 
Trautmann, Adam 
Trexler, Thomas (Drechsler) 
Weitsel, Isaac (Witsell) 
Wetsel, Solomon (Wetzell) 
Whitmer, Peter (Wittmer) 
Weider, Henry 
Willauer, James 
Wingert, Marv 
Wolff, Christian 
Wuchter, Henry 
Yakely, Daniel (Jackli) 
Yost, John (Jost) 
Young, Abraham (Jung) 
Yundt, John H. (Jund) 
Zartmann. George H. 
Zimmer, Benjamin 



The precise date of Jacob's settlement in Fayette — then known 
as the "town" of Washington, but changed to Fayette in 1808 — 
is not known, but it was probably about 1804, ^s his name still 
appears on the assessment list as late as April, 1803, as the tenant 
of 270 acres of land owned by James Hammond, in Turbot Town- 
ship, Northumberland County, Penn'a, and according to the 
Lilley family Bible his daughter Susan was born in Northumber- 
land County October 29, 1803. As his son John was born in 
Fayette, Nov. 3, 1805, he must have migrated at some intervening 
date. With his wife and three little children, George, Jacob and 
Susan, the eldest but six years old, he must, therefore, sometime 
during the interval mentioned, probably in the spring of 1804, 
have left Turbot Township to seek his fortune in the still newer 
and wilder territory that had so lately belonged to the once pow- 
erful and troublesome Iroquois. It would be a pleasure to relate 
the circvimstances of Jacob's migration, to describe the conveyance 
with which he traveled and crossed the streams and mountains, 
the fellow-settlers with whom he may have journeyed, and say 



The Gernhardt Family History. loi 



how long a time it took him to make the trip, of what his personal 
estate consisted, and mention the particulars of the changed con- 
ditions under which he hopefully struggled to make a home of his 
own in a country so new, but these are all matters that must be 
left to the imagination of the kindred who would be pleased to 
know. He and his family it is certain had few of the luxuries 
that are now regarded as among the necessities of life. 

A record found in the office of the Seneca County Clerk shows 
that on the i8th day of May, 1808, he had entered into an agree- 
ment for the purchase of 168 acres of land in the town of Fayette, 
said land being part of Avhat is described as Lot 40 in the Military 
Tract, and that on the 21st day of August, 181 7, four years after 
his decease, a deed for the land was made by Mary Yredenbaugh 
and Charles Burnett to his eight children, as "heirs of Jacob Garn- 
art, late of Fayette, deceased." Whether he occupied this tract 
as tenant prior to the agreement, or lived on other land in the 
vicinity during the four years he had already been in Fayette, is 
also now but a matter of conjecture. 

But the struggle of life did not last long for him, as not more 
than nine years elapsed after he arrived in the new land of 
promise when he was called away to the silent land whither we all 
go, and where the weary all find rest. His first wife — Anna 
Maria Kramer — preceded him to the world unseen but a few 
months after the birth of their daughter Clarissa, Aug. 10, 1809, 
and when the firstborn of their six children was barely twelve 
years of age, a bereavement and loss of counsel and companion- 
ship that no one without the same mournful experience can fully 
realize. In 181 1 he married Miss Mary Shetterly, with whom he 
had two daughters, and near the close of 1813, but several months 
before the birth of Anna Maria Elizabeth, the second of the two 
daughters, and when he was himself probably yet under forty 
years of age, he was cut down and gathered by the Great Reaper 
who sooner or later claims every one formed of clay. His issue 
and descendants so far as I have been able to obtain the names 
and records : 



I02 The Gcniliardf Fainilv History. 



I. GEORGE^, b. about 1798, in Northumberland County, 
Pa, Little is remembered respecting him. He was, as just 
stated, a mere lad at his father's death. It is said that in later 
years he became addicted to intemperate and improvident habits, 
and that finally, when old and feeble, in January, 1871, found an 
asylum in the Seneca County Poor House. He died April 20, 
1878, aged 80, occupation laboror, and, according to the record of 
the superintendent, was a widower — ^but of his having been mar- 
ried no one seems to have any knowledge, and the statement is "a 
matter of doubt. One who used to see him sometimes in his bet- 
ter days says he was then single, and "a good-hearted and indus- 
trious man," and thinks that loss of property, and possibly domes- 
tic infelicity, if true that he was married when old, may have 
caused him to add to his trouble by vainly trying to "drown grief 
in the intoxicating bowl.'' How liable, and in how many ways, 
we poor mortals one and all are to err. Brother! are you a saint, 
and worthy of being enrolled among the list of the saints ? "Why 
beholdest thou the mote that is in thy brother's eye, but consid- 
erest not the beam that is in thine own ?" 

n. JACOB GARNETS, b. Feb. 25, 1800; m. first, Anna 
Margaret Frantz, of Seneca County, N. Y., April 13, 1819, and 
second, Margaret Bolander, of the same county, June 22, 1848. 
Anna d. May 28, 1847; Margaret d. Dec. 13, 1854, and Jacob d. 
April 5, 1859. A citizen of Fayette, not related, but who knew 
him well, says the inscription on his tombstone, "An honest man 
is the noblest work of God," is a well deserved panegyric. He 
was a provident and industrious farmer, in good circumstances, 
an honored and influential citizen, of whom many favorable 
things might be said. He had ten children by his first wife and 
two by his second, and his descendants are : 

I. John Garnet-^, b. Dec. 4, 1819; m. Eliza Frantz, of 
FayetteX; d. Aug. 30, 1882; r. at death, Fayette. Had 
three children : 

i. Millard Fillmore G.^, b. July 23, 185 1 ; m. Alida Mc- 
Dufifee, of Varick, Sept. 9, 1870; r. ^NlacDougal. N. Y. 
One child : Clinton Leslie G.^, b. Nov. 24, 1886. 



The GcrnJiardt Family History. 103 

//. Sophie^, b. March 17, 1853 ! ""i- Frank Yost, of Fayette^ ; 
P. O. Waterloo. N. Y. One daughter: Luella*^x. 

Hi. Laura ElizabctJv', b. Nov. 19, 1855 ; m. first C. AI. 
Schott, December, 1874; second, Stephen Rogers^ ; r. 
Waterloo. One son : Wilbnr Schott'^x_ 

2. Daniel Garnet-*, b. May 26, 1821 ; m. Catharine YoungX; 
r. Fayette. He d. Sept. 24, 1902. Three children : 

/. Joscpli'\ h. Sept. 7, 1846. 

a. Susaii^, h. June 11, 1848; m. Peter J. Stahl, of Fayette, 
Oct. 14, 1869. Three children : 

a. Lyman P.'^, h. April 30, 1870; m. Grace Ireland, Decem- 

ber, 1895. n. c. 

b. Bertha^, b. May 19, 1873 ; m. George Buckley, of \"a~ 
rickx. One child: Etha", b. July 16, 1900. 

c. Herman A.^, b. Oct. 7, 1874. 

///. Clarissa'', h. Dec. 12, 1850; m. Henry Stahl, of Fay- 
ette'^. Six children : 

a. Liicl J.^, b. Nov. 17, 1869: unm. 

b. Jessie^', b. Jan. 3, 1871 ; m. Cornelius Paine, of Water- 

loo'^. Four children : Leura", iNIyron^, Lewis'', Ruth^. 

c. Frank HS\ b. June 15. 1872; m. Sarah Kennedy, of 

Seneca Falls, JNIarch, 1900. One child: Beatrice'^. 

d. Lorctfa''\ h. Dec. 8, 1873 ; m. Lyman Leonard, of De- 
troit, Mich. One son: Bvram'^^. 

c. Mck-in\ b. Sept. 28, 1875. 
f. Ray*^, b. Jan. 8, 1891. 

3. George Garnet^, b. May 19, 1823 ; m. Elizabeth Yoimg, of 

Fayette'*. He d. in A'arick, ]March 5, 1890. Had three 

children : 

/. Frank-\ b. March 30, 1863 ; imm. 

//. Frederick'', b. ]\Iarch 9, 1870: d. Oct. 17, 1884. 

///. Susie^, b. April 29, 1872; m. Oscar Bachman : P. O. 
Waterloo, N. Y. Six children : William G.*^, b. Nov. 
5, 1890; Anna^, b. Dec. 18, 1891 ; Pearl E.^, b. Oct. 28, 
1892; Francis M.^, b. Oct. 13. 1894: Lena B.^, b. May 
24, 1896; Wellington E.^, b. Aug. 14, 1899. 



I04 Tlic Gcrnhardt Family History. 



4. Jacob Garnet^, b. March ,31, 1825; m. Mary Snyder, of 
Lockport, N. Y., Nov. 9, 1848. He d. at Lockport, March 
7, 1900. Had three children : 

i. Edzvin LczvcUyn^, b. March 10, 1849; m. Lucy Pred- 
more, Nov. 18, 1883; r. Horton, Ohnstead Comity, 
Mmn ; o. farmer. Three children : Ralph Lewellyn*^, 
b. June 28, 1886; Grace^, b. July 5, 1894; Edson Pred- 
more^, b. March 30, 1896. 

ii. Clara Edna^, h. Feb. i, 1861 ; m. Lyman Franklin 
Ernest, Jan. 5, 1887; P. O. Gasport, N. Y. One 
child: Eva Belled, b. June 18, 1889. 

Hi. Clarence Edson^, b. Feb. i, 1861. Twin brother of 
Clara. He d. June 16, 1901. 

5. Philip Garnett*, b. Jan. 3, 1827; m. first, Elizabeth Will- 

onerx; she died in 1861 ; second, Mrs. Margaret Reed 
Laub, Dec. 5, 1870; r. McDougal, Seneca County, N. Y. 
Was a cooper by occupation in early life, but l^ter became 
a farmer. Has for some years been elder in the Reformed 
Church at Fayette. 

Philip enlisted under the Old Flag on the 5th of August, 
1862, and joined Co. I, 126th Regiment, N. Y. Vol. Infantry, and 
was present in the battles of Harper's Ferry, Gettysburg, Auburn 
Ford, Bristow Station, Wilderness, Po River, Spottsylvania, 
Mine Run, Morton's Ford, Petersburg, and, if he had not been 
disabled at the latter place, would a few days later have witnessed 
the closing scene of the War of the Rebellion, when Gen. Lee, 
to avoid "further effusion of blood," wisely accepted Gen. 
Grant's kind invitation and liberal terms to surrender. 

At Gettysburg, Philip's regiment was in the Third Brigade, 
Third Division, of the famous Second Army Corps, under "The 
Superb" Major General Winfield S. Hancock, and was in the 
thickest of the terrible fighting on the second and third days of 
that memorable and decisive battle. It was the Second Corps 
that received and repulsed the shock of Pickett's fearful charge 
in the afternoon of the third day, than which a more determined 
assault no army perhaps ever made and none ever more valiantly 
withstood. The Third Brigade was in the front line of battle, 
the men resting and waiting on their knees, while the defiant and 




nil l.ir CAKNK'I'li, MrlKilGAI,. N. V. 



The Gcniliardt Family History. 105 

confident Confederates under Pickett, Kemper, Pettigrew, 
Archer, Davis, Armistead, and other fearless leaders, whose 
valor should have graced a better cause, came boldly, with bay- 
oneted muskets, across the plain from the foot of Seminary Ridge 
to fight and to win or perish. But the men they were confront- 
ing were just as brave and determined, and when the assaulting 
columns had advanced close to the kneeling line, showing their 
firm set faces and fire-flashing eyes, the Boys in Blue rose to 
their feet and gave them a death-dealing volley. But the check 
thus given to the impetuous foe was only for an instant. Terri- 
ble ! terrible ! was the crash of arms and slaughter that now for 
some moments followed. Death and destruction did their awful 
work all along the line. The appalling scene can not be ade- 
quately described — and wath Philip we are glad to turn away 
from its contemplation. But thank Heaven ! a great victory was 
won by the defenders of Freedom and Humanity, and the world 
forever has reason to rejoice. 

On the evening of that fateful day, when the ground was 
thickly covered with the wounded, the dead and the dying, Philip 
was among the detailed to look after and help the wounded. 
Finding a dying comrade, whom he had long known and es- 
teemed, and who belonged to his own company, he remained with 
and did all he could for the sufferer until he died, at midnight, 
and then, worn out himself with the days of hard marching to 
reach the field of battle and by the strain that immediately fol- 
lowed, he lay down by the side of his dead friend, under the same 
blanket, and slept soundly until the first rays of morning enabled 
him to begin again the search for the wounded. \Miat a sad and 
extraordinary celebration was this in commemoration of the 
Fourth of July ! But never was there one more heroic and 
heartfelt since the first Day of Independence. Some idea of the 
fierceness and havoc of the struggle, and of the sanguinary part 
in which it was Philip's fate to share, may be formed when it is 
considered that of the Third Brigade alone 13^ men and officers 
were killed, 542 were wounded, and ^;^ men were ca])lured, mak- 
ing a total loss of 714, or 137 more than the conil)ined casualties 



io6 The Gcrnliavdt Family History. 

of the other two brigades of the Third Division of Hancock's 
Corps. It was in this battle^ that, as history now declares, that 
the "backbone" of the great slaveholders' rebellion was broken, 
but it was at a fearful cost, and, as Philip's further active partici- 
pation reminds us, there were many terrific and costly encounters 
before the final victory at Appomattox, and Johnston's surrender 
at Durham's Station. 

After Gettysburg Philip shared in all the important engage- 
ments with the Second Corps, in what is known in history as the 
V/ilderness campaign, such as the battles of the Wilderness, 
Spottsylvania Court House, Mine Run, Po River, and a succes- 
sion of fierce conflicts that, until the end of the "cruel war," al- 
most daily occurred. It was during this active campaign that 
the intrepid Grant made his famous comment in one of his dis- 
patches to the Secretary of War: "I propose to fight it out on 
this line, if it takes all summer." It would require too much of 
our limited space to give a detailed account of Philip's part and 
recollections of this eventful period of the great conflict, as it will 
be necessary also to refer to the military service of many others 
of the descendants of Heinrich Gernhardt who enlisted in the 
hallowed cause of the Union and human freedom. Philip prob- 
ably never dreamed that while he was at the front hearing the 
"red-mouthed cannon's peal," and during the many wearisome 
marches and countermarches, when the contending armies were 
moving to embarrass and circumvent each other, to win the ad- 
vantage of position, so important often in determining the issue 
of a battle, that there were others on duty near him, in the same 
marches and in the same battles, through whose loyal hearts the 
same blood of his ancestors, Heinrich and Rosine, was then pul- 
sating. How little we, one and all, know of what is constantly 
transpiring around us in the great world in which we live and 
strive and muse and die. Philip returned to his home with the 
marks of merciless war on his person. He was twice painfully 
wounded : first,' by a ball striking his left leg below the knee, while 
he was going on the picket line at Spottsylvania, one of the hard- 
est fought battles of the war, where the brunt of Lee's desperate 



The Ccni/iardt Family History. 107 

but unsuccessful effort to regain the position he had lost was 
again sustained by Hancock's Corps ; and the next time he was 
more dangerously wounded by a bullet striking his gun and burst- 
ing it, and causing a breast injury that took him to Mansion 
House Hospital, at Alexandria, and terminated his usefulness in 
helping to crush the Rebellion. He was honorably discharged 
when his regiment was mustered out, and now receives a pension 
of $14 a month. Had children: 

i. Sarah Elisabeth^, b. Nov. 10, 1852; m. Jacob W. Stahl, 
Dec. 26, 1871 ; r. Seneca Falls, N. Y. One child: 
Gertrude May*^, b. May 8, 1879. Gertrude m. Frank 
Kennedy, Oct. 19, 1898, and has one child: Frances 
EarF, b. Dec. 23, 1900. 

a. Martin^, b. Nov. 28, i860; m. Nina Saeger, Nov. 9, 
1882; r. West Fayette. Three children: Nancv^, b. 
Sept. 3, 1885; Nettie^, b. April 7, 1887; Eliza^, b.'july 
31. 1888. 

Hi. Charles E.^, b. Feb. 7, 1872; m. Miss Sarah Hornbeck, 
July 25, 1896; r. Ovid, N. Y. Is the editor and pro- 
prietor of the Ovid Gazette and Independent, a flour- 
ishing weekly journal having 1,200 subscribers. Is 
also President of the village of Ovid. He and wife are 
members of the Presbyterian Church. 

iv. Anna Pearl^, b. Feb. 4, 1877; "i. Charles A. Johnston, 
a prosperous farmer residing near Ovid, Dec. 24. 1896. 

6. William Garnet'*, b. April 22, 1829; m. Martha Cook, 
Oct. 17, 1855; r. Fayette. One child: Hattie^. b. i860; 
m.x Reed, of Ontario County, N. Y. 

7. Maria Garnet*, b. Aug. 2, 1831 ; m. Jacob Young. March 

14, 1861. He d. Nov. 2y, 1898. She d.x Had three 
children : 

i. Eliza Jane^, h. Feb. 12, 1865; m. Alonzo Stahl. of \'ar- 
ick, Jan. 31, 1883. Two children: George E.'', b. May 
24. 1893; Mary*\ b. Sept. i. 1895. 

a. Edx^'ard C.^, h. July 5, 1867; m. Cora Litzenberger ; 
n. c. 

Hi. Henry E.^\ b. March 28, 1869: m. Rdsa Kunov, of 
Favettc ; n. c. 



io8 Tlic Gcrnliardt Family History. 

8. Harriet Esther Garnet'*, b. Sept. 6, 1833 ; m. Noah Den- 
ton, of Varickx. He. d. Jan. 30, 1892. Two daughters : Mar- 
garet^, b. March 15, 1862; d. Nov. 30, 1899. Had five 
children^: Elda^, b. Nov. 2t^, 1863; m. Edward Kunlyx. 
She d. June 23, 1883. 

9. Margaret Garnet^, b. Nov. 4, 1835 ; m. Orville Easton, 

March 26, 1856; r. Watertown, Mich. Eight children: 

i. Jacob Clinton Eastorv', b. Feb. 14, 1858; m. Mary V. 
Rowland, Feb. 16, 1881 ; r. Grand Ledge, Mich. One 
child : Flora*^, b. July 9, 1895. 

ii. Susan Belle Easton^, b. Oct. 17, 1861 ; m. Frank S. 
King, Sept. 28, 1881 ; r. Watertown, Mich. Two chil- 
dren : Josie Myrl K.^ b. Nov. 11, 1886; Pearl King^ 
b. Sept. 4, 1899. 

Hi. Josephine Easton^, h. Oct. 8, 1863 ; m. Marion A. Day- 
ton, Oct. 8, 1883 ; r. Jackson, Mich. Three daughters: 
Bernice^, b. Oct. 12, 1886; Ethel^, b. Oct. 12, 1891 ; 
Ivah*^x, 1892 

it'. Ora May Easton^, h. April 28, 1866; m. Glen D. Shad- 
duck, Dec. 3, 1891 ; r. Jackson, Mich. 

V. Lillie Adell Easton^, b. May 26, 1868; m. Allen Jeck- 
ells, May 26, 1895; r. Eagle, Mich. One daughter: 
Georgia^, b. Feb. 21, 1897. 

z'i. Frank Wesley Easton^, b. April 9, 1870. 

z'ii. Charles Henry Easton^, h. Dec. 9, 1872 ; m. Lura 
El wood, Jan. 8, 1902. 

z'iii. Walter Earl Easton^, b. ^Nlarch 30, 1875 ; m. Nellie 
Whitlock, June 4, 1902. 

10. Henry Garnet"*, b. April 5, 1838; m. Laura J. Schram, 
Sept. 19, i860; r. Willoughby, O. One daughter: Hattie^, 
b. Sept. 23, 1861 ; m. Edward Kidward, March, 1879. He 
d. in 1882. One son: Raymond K.^, b. 1881 ; d. 1902. 

11. Francis A. Garnet^ b. Nov. 21, 1850; m. Monroe Schaf- 
fer, of Lehigh County, Pa., March 4, 1869; r. Fayette. 
Two sons: Frederick M.^, b. Dec. 28, 1875; m. Ida 
Kuney, Dec. 7, 1899; LeRoy C.^ b. Nov. 14, 1887. , 

12. Frederick Garnet^, b. May 14, 1854; d. March 10, 
1864. 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 109 

III. SUSANNAH GARNET3, b. Oct. 29, 1803 ; ni. Jacob 
Lilley, March 31, 1825; r. Willoughby, O. She d. April 21, 
1851. Had eleven children : 

1. Sarah Lillev^, b. Jan. 8, 1826; ni. first, Lewis Billson, 
Nov. 30, 1848; second, David Arnold, March 10, 1853. 
She d. April i, 1901. Had six children: 

/. George L. Billson^, b. Jan. 16, 1850^. 
a. Sarah Ann Arnold^, h. Jan. 5, 18545^. 
Hi. David L. Arnold^, b. May 15, 1856X. 

iv. Frank Arnold^, h. May 20, 1858; m. Loella Lockwood, 
March 20, 1883; r. Perry, Ohio. One child: Lena^, 
b. Jan. 9, 1888. 

z>. Charles IV. Arnold^ h. Hay i, i860. 
z'i. Clara J. Arnold^, h. Oct. 22, 1862. 

2. Susanna Lillev^, b. Feb. 13, 1828; m. Joseph Philpot, 
Jan. 6, 1853. She d. Dec. 14, 1899, and is buried in East 
Cleveland Cemetery. Last r. Willoughby, O. Had five 
children : 

/. Florence T.^, b. April i, 1855; m. William Clark, Aug. 
I. 1875; r. Willoughby, O. Five children: 

a. Everett^, b. June 16, 1876; d. April 25, 1877. 

b. Elmer J.''', b. March 20, 1878; m. Elgie O'Brien, June 

I, 1900. Two children: Glenn William'', b. Feb. 24, 
1901 ; Oland'', b. July 4, 1902. 

c. Agnes^, b. Sept. 3, 1880; m. Burney Lindley, May 22, 

1899. 

d. Cora A.^, h. Jan. 31, 1884. 
' e. Lena M.^ b. Aug. 17, 1888. 

a. Orra S. L.°. b. Sept. 12, 1856: ni. first. William Dowen,. 
Nov. 8, 1878; r. near Willoughby, O. He d. Sept. 5, 
1881 ; m. second, Perry Moore, Oct. 13. 1883. Had 
nine children : 

a. J. Ford DozveJi^, b. Sept. 10. 1879. 

b. II \ Earl Dozucn^, b. Nov. 3, 1880. 

c. Elva Rose Moorc^\ h. Aug. 9, 1884. 

d. Lida Belled b. .ALarch 2, 1886. 

e. Egtna May\ h. April 28, 1887. 



no The Gernhardt Family History. 

~f. Hyram Pcrry^, b. March 22, 1889. 
g. Nettie Hazcf, b. May 14, 1893. 

.'■ ^'^-' '' [ twins, b. April 28, 1896. 
%. Ross G.^, ) 

Hi. George L.^, b. Feb. 27, 1858; m. Elizabeth Rush, Dec. 
25, 1883 ; r. Grand Rapids, Mich. 

iv. Jennie C. L.^, b. Dec. 28, 1859 ! "^- Henry Kitchen. July 
6, 1879; r. near Willoughby, O. Five children: 

a. James Everett^, b. Sept. 29, 1880. 

b. Harry Joseph'', b. May 12, 1883. 

c. Susie Lillian^, b. Nov. 7, 1889. 

d. Ruth Madeline^, b. Sept. 2, 1895. 

e. Evalia Belle^, b. Feb. 17, 1899. 

V. Lillie J. L.^, h. June 21, 1867; m. Frederick Covert, 
Feb. 19, 1885; r. Willoughby, O. One son: Herold 
D.^ b. Aug. 14, 1899. 

3. Mary Lilley*, b. Oct. 10, 1829; m. William Palmer, Oct. 
I, 1852. She d. Dec. 17, 1890. He d. Jan. 30, 1896. 
Both are buried at Euclid, O. Had four children : 

i. Francis L. P.^, b. Nov. i, 1853; m. Miss Mattie Stock- 
well, April 20, 1875. Five children: Maud V. P.^, b. 
Feb. 4, 1877; Mabel G. P.", b. Aug. 14, 1881 ; Minnie 
L. P.6, b. Aug. 19, 1883 ; Myrtle p'^^^ b. July 27, 1885 ; 
Martha P.^, b. Julv 15, 1887; m. second, to Cora Paige, 
Sept. 25, 1888. two children: Ray G. P.^, b. Feb. 4, 
1892; Harry L. P.^, b. March 28, 1900. 

a. Clara Antonette P.^, h. March 14, 1856; m. Clark \V. 
Gillette, Oct. 26, 1882; r. Willoughby, O. Five chil- 
dren: Palmer H. G.*^, b. Aug. 26, 1883; Julia H. 
G.6, b. Aug. 21, 1885; Wade C. G.^, b. Nov.'s, 1886; 
Mary L. G.^, b. June 15, 1890; Doris Mabel G.'^, b. 
June 17; 1892. 

Hi. Lizzie Bell P.^, b. June 7, 1858; m. first, James C. 
Maxwell, Nov. 20, 1879; second, Charles Whiting, 
Dec. 4, 1895 ; r. Mayfield Center, O. n. c. 

iv. Charles Gifford Palmer^, b. Dec. 3, 1864; m. Isadore 
Usher, Feb. 25, 1891 ; r. Euclid. O. Two children: 
Herold Estcourt P.^, b. June 16, 1891 ; Mildred Flor- 
ence P.6, b. Oct. 16, 1899. 



The GcniJiardt FcDiiily History. m 



4. John W. Lili.ky^, b. ]^Iay 28, 183 1 ; m. Clarissa Smith, in 
1854. One child : Birdie B. L.^, b.x. 

5 Jacob Lilley"*, b. April 29, 1833 : ni. Ann Griswoldx. 

6. Charles Peter Lh.ley^, b. June 2, 1835 - i^^- Amelia Ames, 
Julys, 1855; r. Willoughby, O. 

Enlisted Sept. 3, 1864, in Co. B of the 177th Ohio Vol. Infan- 
try, ist Brig., 2d Div., 23d Army Corps, and served until June 20, 
1865, when he was mustered out with his regiment. When the 
Confederate General Hood with his formidable army moved 
against General Thomas at Nashville, in December, 1864, our 
kinsman, C. P. L., writes me that he was with General Milroy at 
Murfreesboro, and that when the great battle at the Tennessee 
metropolis was fought he heard the booming of the heavy guns 
for several days. But he was also destined to have a hand in 
some of the fighting of that memorable campaign. Hood sent 
his cavalry under Forrest around to seize the Union position at 
Murfreesboro and destroy the railroad leading to Nashville. 
Milroy had notice that Forrest was coming to attack him with 
8,000 men, and felt quite ready to receive him with his own force 
of 5,000. In the evening, when Forrest arrived he sent a flag of 
truce to Alilroy and demanded him to surrender. The undis- 
mayed Milroy quickly and curtly replied, says C. P. L., "I will 
fight you till hell freezes over, and then will fight you on the ice." 
The next morning, when Forrest opened the ball by driving in the 
Union pickets and was moving to attack, he was himself unex- 
pectedly attacked by Milroy and with such fury and vigor that 
he was driven back in defeat, with a loss of more than four hun- 
dred men. Lilley's regiment lost four men during the day. For- 
rest left his dead and wounded on the field. He hurried away to 
join Hood at Columbia, to serve as his rear guard, as the latter 
was now in flight toward Alabama, after wasting his strength in 
a vain effort to drive Thomas out of Nashville. Lilley was with 
his regiment several months longer, sharing its "stern alarums and 
dreadful marches," when he was attacked with rheumatism, and 
laid up in the hospital at Wilmington, N. C, until the close of the 
war. His family : 



112 The Gernhardt Family History. 

i. Charles H}, b. Nov. 12, 1856; m. Susan T. Richardson, 
May 24, 1885 ; r. Fort Worth, Texas ; o. dealer in flour, 
feed, coal, etc. One son: Henry Charles^, b. Dec. 12, 
1891. 

ii. Edzvard^, b. Dec. 14, 1858 ; M. Florence Whitcomb ; r. 
California. Two sons : Guy^ and Walter^. 

Hi. Edith^, b. Nov. 12, 1861 ; d. July 24, 1865. 

iv. Clifton^, b. April 20, 1863; d. Aug. 2, 1865. 

V. Maggie^, b. March 26, 1865 ; m. Frank Douglass Roper, 
1885 ; r. Willoughbv, O. Three children : Blanche C', 
b. April 12, 1886; Belief, b. June i, 1887; Wayne^, b. 
June 9, 1 89 1. 

vi. Maynard^, b. March 18, 1867; m. Nellie Burke; d. 
May 14, 1894. One son: Charles^. 

vii. Bcllc^, b. Jan. 3, 1870; d. Nov. 20, 1870. 

via. Blanche^, b. Jan. 3, 1870 ; m. Vernon H. Hungerford, 
Oct. 19, 1899; r. Painsville, O. 

ix. Mabef^, b. May 19, 1874; m. Clayton L. Baldwin, Oct. 
14, 1892; r. Cleveland, O. 

X. Eugene^, h. July 26, 1877 ; m. Catharine Murphy, Nov. 9, 
1900; r. Willoughby, O. 

xi. Clifford^, b. May 8, 1879. 

7. Daniel Lilley^, b. Aug. 2, 1837; m. first, Sulvia Pike, Oct. 
6, 1859; she d. April 21, 1893; m. second, Thresa Brett, 
Oct. 6, 1895; r. Willoughby, O. Five children: 

i. Lydia^, b. Aug. 20, i860; d. Nov. 3, 1880. 

ii. Frank^, b. April 20, 1862; d. May 11, 1862. 

Hi. Ida Belle^, b. June 30, 1863 ; m. Walter Baldwin, Feb. 
24, 1887; r. Kirtland, O. Two children: Worthy b. 
Aug. 24, 1889; Lawrence B.^, b. Aug. 4, 1895. 

iv. Jefferson Jacob^, b. Jan. 2, 1873; m. Lena Hager, Nov. 
21, 1894; r. Kirtland, O. Four children: Floyd^ b. 
Dec. 4, 1896; Claurant^, b. Sept. 23, 1898; Gordon D.'^, 
b. Feb. 26, 1899; Sylvia S.^ b. Feb. 16, 1901. 

V. Clarissa Albertie^, b. Nov. 18, 1878; m. James Christy, 
Oct. 9, 1900. 



The GcrnJiardt Family History. 113 

8. Clarissa Ann Lii.ley^, b. Aug. 24, 1839; m. William 
Greenstreet ; d. Nov. 21, 1899^^. 

9. George W. Lilley^, b. Dec. 18, 1841 ; d. May 22, 1900; 
unm'^. 

10. Margaret Lilley^, b. at Mayfield, O., March 14, 1845 J 
m. first, James Covert, July 14, i860; second, Daniel C. 
Dellinger, Feb. 2y, 1891 ; r. Cleveland, O. Had three 
children : 

i. Amy A. Coz'crt^, h. Sept. 20, 1861 ; she m. Fred. Hop- 
kins, Sept. 17, 1882; he d. Mav 11, 1903; r. Cleveland, 
O. Three children: Ross C.^ b. March 4, 1886; 
Lida M.6. b. Dec. 30, 1890; Myrtle D.^, b. May 2, 1895. 

a. Frank L. Covert^, b. May 26, 1865. 

Hi. Claude R. Covert^, b. July 14, 1878; killed Feb. 11, 
1899, in a railroad accident. 

11. Orra Ann Lilley*, b. May 23, 1846; m. Daniel P. Sher- 
man, May 7, 1862; d. Nov. 13, 1901, at Vicksburg, Mich. 
Had five children : 

i. Adda M.^, b. July 2, 1863 ; m. Anson W. Eberstein, May 
6, 1899 ; r. Scotts, Mich. 

ii. Angie A.^, b. Aug. 25, 1865 ; m. first, James Lorback, 
Oct. 14, 1886; second, Frederick F. Hodges. Dec. 25, 
1901. Two children: Lynn Charles Lorback^, b. 
July 24, 1887; Harold Lorback^, b. March 29, 1890 — d. 
Jan. 31, 1891. 

Hi. Margaret E.^, b. June 6, 1869; m. George A. Squiers, 
Dec. 28, 1898. One son: Merrill David'', b. July 4, 
1902. 

iv. Francic^, b. Jan. i, 1877: d. Feb. 13, 1890. 

V. Maud Ines^, b. Oct. 18, 1880. 

IV. JOHN GARNETT3, ^ Nov. 3. 1805, in Seneca County, 
N. Y. ; m. first. Mary Hunt, of Romulus, N. Y.. in 1828, and 
soon afterwards settled in Willoughby, Ohio; Mary d. March 
27, 1861 ; m. second, Miss Augusta Van Avery. He d. Jan. 29, 
1865, and is buried in Maple Grove Cemetery, near Willoughby. 
He was many years proprietor of the "Gaructt IToU'l," U> miles 



114 The Gernhardt Family History. 

€ast of Cleveland, on the stage route to Sheridan. The house 
was afterwards kept for a number of years by his son-in-law, 
Orin F. Barton. Had five children : 

1. Martha Ann Garnett^ b. Jan. 4, 1829 ; m. William Hitt, 

1847; she d. March 12, 1874; he d. Feb. 10, 1896; r. Wil- 
loughby, O. They had six children : 

i. Mary Janc^, b. Aug. 21, 1848; m. Joseph L. Baldwin, 
Dec. 20, 1866; r. Nottingham, O. Seven children: 

a. Akin W.^, b. Feb. 7, 1868; m. Maud Spafford, Dec. 24, 
1892. 

h. Van W.^, b. Sept. 17, 1869; m. Effie Payne, June 21, 
1894. One daughter: Edith Francis", b. June 30, 1899. 

c. Eugene'^, h. Oct. 27, 1871. 

d. Glen H.^, h. May 12, 1875. 

e. Mabel Belief b. Aug. 18, 1881. 
/. E Stella May^, b. Dec. 13, 1883. 
g-. Grace Ann^, b. Nov. 23, 1888. 

a. Francelia M}, b. Nov. 22, 1851 ; d. in September, 1852. 

Hi. Clarence R.^, b. Jan. 16, 1857 ; m. Anna Worts, Dec. 14, 
1886; r. Mayfield, O. Three children: Alice E.^, b. 
Oct. 29, 1893; Grace B.^ b. June 28, 1897; Hattie M.*', 
b. Nov. 25, 1900. 

iv. Ella Catharine^, b. March 25, 1859; m. Patrick B. Quin- 
lan, March 3, 1878; r. Lacota, Mich. One daughter: 
Cora MayS, b. Jan. 17, 1884. 

V. Hattie A.^, h. Feb. 2, 1863; m. Asa S. Mapes, Sept. 28, 
188 1. She d. Jan. 23, 1887, at Chester Cross Roads, 
Geauga County, O. One son : George Franklin^, b. 
May 7, 1884. 

vi. Frank J.^, b. June 16, 1865 ; m. Altie E. Brott, Aug. 5, 
1888; r. Willoughby, O. One son: Floyd W.^, b. 
Sept. 26, 1892 ; d. July 13, 1893. 

2. Sarah Louise Garnett*, b. Oct. i, 1830; m. Orin F. Bar- 

ton, June 9, 1853 ; r. Portland, Mich. She d. Sept. 4, 1898. 
Had seven children : 

i. John J.^, b. May 25, 1855; m. Emma Bates, April 22, 
1877 ; r. Forest Hill, Mich. 




DAXlK.l. (.Ai;.\IIAl;'l'^ SIIKLHV, (). 

1807-187ti. 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 115 

ii. Mary T}, b. Sept. 29, 1857; d. Sept. 10, 1858. 
Hi. Franklin G.^\ h. May 26, 1859; 111. Mamie Uriggs, April 
17, 1890 ; r. Portland, Mich. ; n. c. 

iv. Jessie G.^, b. Dec. 24, 1861 ; m. Lucretia Manderville, 
April 4, 1884; r. Portland. One child: George^ b. 
Jan. 21, 1887. 

V. WilliafH O.^, h. Oct. 24, 1863 ; m. Lottie Lyon, April 24, 
1895 ! ^"- l^ortland. Dealer in agricultural implements. 

z'i. Clara E.^, b. Aug. 14, 1869; m. Fred. Dewey, Feb. 2y, 
1899. 

%'ii. Alvin J.^, b. April 2, 1871. 

3. Stephen Garnett*, b. Aug. 20, 1832; m. Angelia Rooker, 
August, 1852 ; d. of smallpox, near Manistee, Mich., where 
he was engaged in the lumber trade, in August, 1872. One 
son : Frank^x, who when last heard from was in the Black 
Hills. 

4. George Garnett*, b. Aug. 30, 1834; m. Mary E. Schram, 

Sept. 13, 1854; r. Willoughby, O. Two children: 

i. James Alvin^, b. July 8, 1855 ; m. Lizzie Hager, Nov. 15, 
1876. Two children: Lisle^ b. Aug. 26, 1879; Ar- 
lands, b. May 4, 1886. 

ii. Nettie^, b. July 21, 1863; m. Henry Hager, March 24, 
1880. Three children: Blanche Edna^, b. July 15, 
1883; Harold^ b. March 11, 1890 — d. Aug. 30, 1898; 
Helen Fay^ b. Sept. 19, 1901. 

5. Carrie Garnett'*, b. in Michigan July 31, 1864, by John's 

second wife, Augusta Van Avery : m. Robert Walker Mer- 
rill, March 15, 1881 ; r. Grand Junction, Mich. Three chil- 
dren : Clara May'', b. Aug. 7, 1883 — d. in childhood; 
Gracie Alice^, b. May 15, 1887 — d. in childhuutl ; Pearl 
Marie^, b. Dec. 29, 1892. 

V. DANIEL GARNHART3, b. in Seneca County. N. Y.. 
Oct. 7, 1807. When he was nearly three }ears old his mother 
died, and he was then taken to Perry County, Pa., and there was 
raised by Jacob Kramer, a relative of his mother, m. Elizabeth 
Goshorn, of New Germantown, Perry CouiUw Jan. 20, 1826. In 
1832 he moved with his family to Richland County. Ohio. He 
d. May 17, 1876. She d. Feb. 18, 1894. Had twelve children: 



ii6 The Gernhardt Family History. 

I Elizabeth Garnhart*, b. Oct. 20, 1827; m. George Ow- 
ings, Aug. 10, 1848. George d. July 29, 1902. She now 
resides at Patterson, Harden County, Ohio. Had eleven 
children : 

i. William 0.^, b. May 24, 1849 J ^^i- Louise Deardorf, Jan. 
II, 1875 ; n. c. ; r. Kenton, O. 

a. George IV. O.^, b. Aug. 6, 1850; m. Susan Lark, Feb. 13, 
1873 ; r. Salina, Kansas ; o. farmer. One son : Walter 
L. Owings^, b. May 8, 1874; m. Lucy Lamkin. Has 
two children : Elva'^, b. Nov. 6, 1896 ; Lila'^, b. Feb. 25, 
1903. 

Hi. John F. O.^, b. Aug. 29, 185 1 ; m. Lydia J. Slagle, Feb. 
4, 1880; r. Morral, O. Nine children: Eva Idell O.^ 
b. Dec. I, 1880 — m. Nov. 8, 1900; Oscar Jacob O.^, b. 
Dec. 30, 1881— d. Feb. 11, 1882 ; Lula Edith O.^ b. Dec. 
14, 1883 ; Blanche Elizabeth O.^ b. Dec. 5,1885 ; Dorsey 
Francis O.^, b. Feb. 22, 1888 — d. Aug. 14, 1888; Alonzo 
Milo 0.6, b. Sept. 29, 1889; Harley Elmer O.^, b. Nov. 
10, 1891 ; Oda Pruedentia O.^ b. Sept. 21, 1898; Charles 
Westly Curtis O.^ b. Oct. 22, 1901. 

iv. Mary 0.^, b. Sept. 30, 1852. 
V. Jacob 0.5, b. Feb. 3, 1854; m. Dec. 28, 1878X. 
vi. Samuel 0.^, h. Feb. 25, 1855 ; d. May 28, 1855. 
vii. David O.^, b. May 10, 1856; m. Dec. 20, 1877X. 
via. Orrcy O.^, b. Dec. 13, 1859; m. Sept. 24, 1888^. 
ix. Samuel O.^, b. Jan. 26, 1862; d. June 19, 1879. 
x.Lovina 0.°, b. March 22, 1865; m. Aug. 16, 1894^. 
xi. Charles O.^, b. Jan. 12, 1871 ; m. May 24, 1896'^. 

2. John Garnhart*, b. Feb. 14, 1829; m. Eliza Slaybaugh; 

r. Tiro, O. He d. May 3, 1900. She d. March 18, 1891. 
One son: Sidney A.^, b. April 23, 1850; m. Miss^ Rau- 
denbaugh, Oct. 29, 1867. Two children : Bertin W.^, b. 
July 5, 1868; d. Oct. 6, 1870; Frank F.6, b. May 3, 1872. 

3. Jacob Garnhart*, b. July 29, 1830; m. Katharine Myers, 
Jan. 29, 1856; r. Shelby, O. 

In the spring of 1852, when 22 years of age, he and his 
brother George, aged 20, and Henry Sotzen, who afterwards 
married their sister Lovina, and certain other ambitious yoilng 




JACOB (iAK.Nii Ai; 11, >iii:i.i;v, o. 



Tlic Gcniluirdt Family IJisiory. 117 

men of the neighborhood, contracted the "gold fever" so seriously 
that the sequel was a party of twelve, all alike violently attacked, 
banded together to go for the precious nuggets that they fondly 
imagined were deposited for them in the sands and gravel in the 
river beds and alluvium bottoms of far-distant California. They 
fitted up three well-built wagons, with four to six mules to each, 
and on the 5th day of March started their little caravan on the 
long overland route for the then evervwhere much talked of won- 
derful El Dorado. At Independence, Mo., they halted long 
enough to complete the outfit of essentials for so long a journey, 
and on the 25th day of April set forth on the Fremont trail, via 
Forts Kearny and Laramie, for the land of gold on which the 
eyes of the whole enlightened world was then fixed. They 
crossed the summit of the Rocky ^Mountains on the 21st of June, 
and on the 2d day of July reached the head of the forty-mile sandy 
desert, where they gave their animals a rest and made prepara- 
tions to pass the most dreaded part of the fatiguing journey. 
They stuffed sacks with grass for the mules, filled their cans with 
water, and on the afternoon of the 5th set forward on the barren 
and repellent waste. Twice they halted during the night to give 
the animals grass and water, but pressed steadily forward until 
they reached the Carson River^ where they took another needed 
rest. It was a long and tiresome journey to the newly discovered 
gold field, attended with discomfort and danger, moving step by. 
step slowly across vast treeless prairies, climbing over rugged 
mountains, wading through streams, now laboring through dark 
and narrow ravines, at one moment oppressed by excessive heat 
and at another shivering from cold, sometimes exposed to a soak- 
ing rain, and never knowing but that the next moment they might 
be attacked, killed and scalped by some prowling band of jealous 
and blood-thirsty savages. 

A number of parties of Indians were met along the trail after 
the young adventurers left Independence, but they never molested 
the Inn's, and the boys were valorously careful not to molest 
them. Jacoli sa\s that whenever they dealt with them or came 
in*:o contact with them, thev were alwavs strictly fair aud reason- 



ii8 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



able with them. The nomadic possessors of the soil, he reminds 
us, were somtimes ill-treated and taken advantage of by some of 
the inconsiderate ones of the many thousands who crossed the 
continent, and in their savage way the offended red men were not 
always indisposed to seek revenge. This agrees with the his- 
torians, who affirm that from the landing of Columbus, the set- 
tlement of Jamestown, and the advent of the Puritans at Ply- 
mouth, the white man has more frequently than the untutored 
red man been the first aggressor. The Indians justly regarded 
the country through which the gold-seekers and emigrants were 
swarming as their territory, and the government recognized their 
claim by agreeing to give them fifty thousand dollars every year 
for fifteen years to permit the emigrants to cross the plains with- 
out disturbing them. There was no serious trouble for several 
years, but the white men began crowding more and more on the 
domain reserved to the Indians by sacred treaty, especially a few 
years later when gold and silver were discovered to exist in such 
bountiful quantity in Colorado as to turn the tide of emigration 
to that section, and this rush of miners and settlers, and utter 
disregard of their rights, so alarmed and stirred up the revenge- 
ful feelings of the Indians as to incite them to commit depreda- 
tions, plunder and murder, in the vain hope of regaining sole 
possession of their country. After they were themselves severely 
punished for too often indiscriminately punishing the white peo- 
ple, some of the tribes asked for peace. Twelve years after 
Jacob and the boys followed the overland trail the Cheyennes 
and Arapahoes were invited to come to Fort Lyon to discuss the 
question of a treaty, and as they were promised protection, five 
hundred of both sexes and all ages came to the fort. But how 
were they protected ? History says Colonel Chivington fell upon 
and butchered them, men, women and children, without compas- 
sion. Oh! shame! This most disgraceful crime, known as the 
Sand Creek Massacre, so incensed the outraged tribes that it 
brought on a still greater war, which, it is stated, cost the United 
States thirty million dollars, as well as many lives. 

The boys also saw mighty herds of buffalo, at that time still a 



Tlw GcrnlianU Family History. 119 



distinctive and marvelous feature of the great Western plains, 
but now a sight that the traveler never sees, as since that day, or 
since the building of the railroads in that country, these huge and 
lordly animals have been subjected to a most brutal and greedy 
slaughter, and completely exterminated. They saw them along 
nearly the whole route across the plains, especially for several 
hundred miles along the North Platte River, where the herds 
were amazingly immense ; a single herd sometimes contaniing 
countless myriads of individuals, covering the prairie farther 
than the eye could reach. The boys were not skilled hunters, 
and were not on a buffalo hunt, and found the burly beasts rather 
shy ; but one day they succeeded in killing one, a success by which 
they were quite elated. The antelope they also found plentiful, 
and regarded them also as interesting objects on the plain, crea- 
tures full of curiosity ; wdien seen nearly always on the watch, 
and generally careful to keep at a safe distance, though not diffi- 
cult to stalk when approached unseen and under cover. The 
boys killed a number, and hence did not have to subsist without 
fresh meat while on the plains. As the small, thin, and pory 
pelts of the antelope are of little or no value, their extermination 
is not likely to take place so long as they have any considerable 
ranges. But the buft'alo were noble game, both their flesh and 
hides being of great value, and so when the railroads were built 
sportsmen had easy and quick access to their ranges, ready trans- 
portation for their booty, and their destruction went on with start- 
ling and portentous rapidity. This also greatly incensed the In- 
dians, who saw their hunting-ranges everywhere invaded, and 
the destruction of their chief means of subsistence going on at an 
appalling rate. 

The boys arrived at the mining town of Placerville July i6th, 
having been on the road just four months and one dav — a dis- 
tance now traveled in a few days. They found some of the gold 
about which they had heard fabuUnis talcs, ])ut thev also found 
that the cost of subsistence was too great to enable them to i)ile 
up wealth as fast as they had hoped — and none ever came back 
East with actual wealth. Nearly all found their wa\ back home 



I20 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



inside of two years. When flour cost 45 cents a pound, potatoes 
25 cents, ham 50, beef 60, and other expenses were in proportion, 
unless one had very lucky finds the ''gold fever"' was quite apt to 
abate in the course of a few months. Only one nugget was 
found that was worth as much as sixteen and one-half dollars. 
After tenaciously digging and washing dirt in search of the yel- 
low stuff more than two years, Jacob concluded he had saved 
enough of it to dig back home. He proceeded to San Francisco 
and secured a passage on the Yankee Blade, and Oct. i, 1854, 
found him passing through the Golden Gate en route for "the 
dearest spot on earth." But fortune "shuffles with a random 
hand, the lots which men are forced to draw." The next day the 
vessel ran on a rock below Point Conception, and his feelings and 
bright anticipations were suddenly changed. There was a dense 
fog, and the sea was boisterous. When night came great un- 
easiness was felt by the many passengers. The wind increased 
in force, now shrieking as if proclaiming a dreadful fate, now 
bemoaning in so mournful a tone as if singing a death song, the 
waves meanwhile breaking fiercely over the deck. It seemed as 
if the ship must go to pieces at any moment, and a thousand help- 
less souls aboard sink beneath the lashing waves, "with bubbling 
groan, without a grave, unknell'd, uncoffin'd, and unknown." 
Jacob had given up ever again seeing the dear old folks and 
sweet home. Next day, however, the staunch vessel was still un- 
impaired, and the wind and waves had so much abated that a 
freight boat was able to approach and get her off the rock and 
tow her back to San Francisco. On the 15th he started for New 
York on the U. S. mail line by way of Panama, and on the i6th 
day of November he sang, or whistled, and certainly enjoyed 
"Home again," after an absence of two years and eight months, 
and was entirely cured of the "gold fever." And he never had a 
relapse. 

The ex-gold digger with his savings of the treasured "dust" 
now bought 80 acres of slightly improved land with a small log 
cabin on it, situated about two and a half miles north-west of 
Shelby, O., and began to improve, with axe and spade, and plow 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 121 

and harrow, and now in a way more to his taste and ambition 
tried to earn some of the gold that bears the stamp of good Uncle 
Sam. He next gave his heart and hand to Miss Kate Meyers, a 
very sensible and fortunate venture for him, as in her he found a 
valuable helper and counselor; and by their combined judgment, 
frugality, and industry, they have won respect and prosperity. 
They bought more land from time tO' time, so that by a policy of 
expansion — after the manner of Uncle Sam — their farm has in- 
creased to 195 acres. Good buildings and the l)est of farming 
implements also followed as the fruits of thrift and diligence. 
They had considerable wet and sterile land, but proper tile drain- 
ing largely increased its productiveness and value — they thus, as 
public benefactors, adding to the wealth of the country. Jacob 
united with the Evangelical Lutheran Church nearly forty years 
ago, has held all its offices, and has for a long time been elder. 
Has been a director of the Citizens' Bank of Shelby from its or- 
ganization in 1892. About eleven years ago his spine was in- 
jured by a piece of timber falling on him while helping to raise a 
building, which has brought on an infirmity that has greatly 
abridged his activity and physical enjoyment : but he manifests 
constant thankfulness for the blessings of life he is still permitted 
to enjoy, looks on the bright side of things, and says he hopes "by 
the grace of God to pull through all right." Has children and 
grandchildren : 

i. George F.^, h. March 12, 1857; m. Jennie Alorton. of 
Shelby, Nov. 20, 1879. Lives with the parents, and 
does the farming. Has two children: Guy M.*", b. 
Sept. 3, 1880, and May L.'\ b. Nov. 2, 1882. ]\kiy m. 
Addison M. High, Dec. 2, 1902. 

ii. Eva AJ>, b. June 21, 1860; m. (i. Warren Cahill. ( )ct. 
28, 1880; r. Tiro, O. One child: Verril*', b. lulv 17, 
1881. 

4. George Garnhart'*, b. May 8, 1832; r. Galion, ( ). : d. Jan. 
2, 1857. He did not succeed as a gold-digger as well as 
his more vigorous brother, Jacob. The climate of that 
section of California, as well as the fatiguing toil of dig- 
ging, flid not seem to agree with his constitution, as most 



122 Tlic Gcnihardt Fauiily History. 

of the time he was not able to work. He returned home 
in October, 1853, and after a continued life-struggle of 
about three years he passed into the realm of rest and 
peace. 

5. Esther Garnhart"', b. April 5, 1834; m. William Sipe, 

March 9, 1853 ; r. Shelby, O. Four children : 

/. Frank Ido^, b. March 12, 1854; m. Barney Beverstock, 
Dec. 12, 1883. Two children: Harriet Urane'', b. 
Oct. II, 1884; Emma Richardson^, b. Oct. 26, 1887. 

a. Allif", b. March 23, 1855 ; m. Clara M. Wilson, May, 
1880. He d. Nov. 12, 1892. Two children: Maud 
Esther^, b. May 3, 1882; Chester^ b. Feb. 6. 1884. 

///. Miiictfc^. b. Jan. 5, 1857; m. first. Rod Dhu Stober, 
Oct. 15, 1874; m. second, Louis Arthur Portner, Nov. 
18, 1886. One child: Minette Ream Stober^ b. 
Nov. 4, 1875. 

iz'. George Deaiv>, b. March 28, 1858; d. June 4, 1898; 
imm. 

6. Susan Garnhart"^, b. Jan. 5, 1836; m. Jacob A. Bru- 
baker, Nov. 6, 1856; r. Shelby, O. Two children: 

i. Frank H.^, b. Alarch 7, 1858; m. Louise AL Brocks, 
Jan. 14. 1879; r. Shelbv, O. Three children: Ber- 
nice B.6, Lloyd R.^ M. Meryl^x. 

ii. Frederick E.^, b. Nov. 20, 1864: m. Bergette Shearer, 
Dec. 29, 1885; r. Shelby, O. One son: Roy^x 

7. David Garnhart-*, b. Oct. 15, 1837; m. ^lary Jane Cross, 

Feb. 6, 1862. He d. July 29, 1895, in Crawford County, 
O. Had six children : 

i. Daniel 0.^ b. Nov. 22, 1865; d. Sept. 11, 1868. 

ii. Nellie^, b. June 17, 1868; m. Osea Morehead, July 4, 
1887. One child: Lloyd^, b. Dec. 8, 1889. 

Hi. Carlton C.^, b. July 13, 1876: r. Canton, O. ' 

iv. Vivian M.^, b. July 12, 1878; m. Ira Humphrey, Dec. 
17, 1897. One child^x; b. April i, 1901. 

V. Earl B.^, b. Aug. 24, 1880. 

z'i. NinaM.^ b. Nov. 28, 1883; d. Oct. i, 1885. 




WASIIINIJTOX GAKXIIAKTi, SIIELI'.V, ( ). 



Tlic Gcvnlianit Fainily History. 123 

8. Mary Ann Garnhart*, b. Oct. 5, 1840; d. May 7, 1862. 

9. Washington Garnhart^, b. Jan. i, 1842; m. Eliza Jane 

English, Dec. 28, 1865; r. Shelby, O. ; o. farmer. 

Washington was twice enrolled in the Union service during 
the Civil War ; first, May 27, 1862, for three months, in Co. H, 
84th Reg't Ohio V. I., and second, May 2, 1864, serving until 
Sept. 10, 1864, in Co. F, 163rd Reg't, Ohio N. G. V., when he 
was discharged by reason of expiration of enlistment. In conse- 
quence of the brief term of service, and not having the required 
drilling, his regiment was employed as an emergency and relief 
force, and to perform guard duty, but he saw quite enough of 
war to realize its seriousness. Was in line (^f battle for some 
time near City Point, on the Saint James, at the mouth of Ap])o- 
mattox River, within seven miles of Petersburg, standing guard 
and skirmishing, in a position from which he could plainly see 
into that rebel stronghold, and where he was daily exhilarated by 
the inhospitably Johnny Rebs throwing vicious bombshells into 
the Union camp, utterly regardless of the consequences. The 
ugly missiles sometimes came too close to be of agreeable in- 
terest, especially one that exploded but a few yards from him 
and severed a poor negro's head from his body. The 163d was 
next ordered to guard Wilson's Landing, an important position 
taken by Grant and held by him until the war ended. Washing- 
ton's family consists of : 

i. Mi)iuic CJ\ h. Nov. 13, 1866: m. Charles Morehead, 
Mav 18, 1887. One daughter: Anise E.", b. [an. 12, 
1888. 

a. Yorado M.^, h. Nov. i, 1870; m. W. M. Guthrie. Sept. 
19, 1900; r. Crestline, (). 

/;"/. Ralph /:.''. b. Aug. 19, 1875. Graduated in pharmacy 
at the Ohio Medical University in 1899, then practiced 
two years in the drug department of the Ohio State 
Hospital for the Insane. Is now studying medicine at 
the same University, from which he expects to grad- 
uate in 1904. 

10. Samuel Garnhari"*, b. Nov. 10, 1844. 



124 ^'''^^ Gcrnhardt Family History. 

On the 7th day of September, 1861, when not yet eighteen 
years old, he enHsted for three years in Co. I, 15th Reg't Ohio V. I. 
While performing guard duty in December following he 
caught a heavy cold that settled on his lungs, making it necessary 
to take him to a hospital in Louisville, Ky. His father being ad- 
vised of his condition, went as soon as he could tO' see him, and 
took him back home. But a disease had fastened upon the brave 
boy that refused tO' yield to medical skill, and on the 20th day of 
January, 1862, he joined the great army in the "silent halls of 
death." He stood bravely in the forefront, ready to serve his 
country to enforce the laws and preserve the Union, and in this 
brief paragraph we can but tell the simple fact of his heroism, 
•devotion and self-sacrifice. So 

"sleep the brave who sink to rest. 



With all their country's honour blest." 

11. LoviNA Garnhart*, b. Feb. 10, 1846; m. Henry Sotzen, 
Jan. 7, 1864; r. Shelby, O. Five children: 

i. George S."", b. July 30, 1865 ; m. Grace Leppard, Oct. 16, 
1887 ; r. Shelbv, O. One child : Bessie S.^, b. Oct. ii, 
1888. 

ii. Harry S.^, b. Oct. 4, 1870; m. Anna Miller, Nov. 11, 
1892 ; r. Cleveland, O. 

in. Walter S.'°, h. July 6, 1877. 

iv. Bertha S.^, b. Julv 25, 1881 ; m. Walter Van Horn, Aug. 
8, 1900. 

v. Hozuard S.^, b. Oct. 9, 1889. 

12. Martha Jane Garnhart"*, b. April 8, 1848 ; m. Samuel F. 
Eckis, March i, 1866; r. Shelby, O. Two children: 

i. Hozvard Orvill E.^, b. Nov. 18, 1866; m. Susan Barga- 
hiser, Sept. 29, 1888. One child : Mary Ellen B.^, b 
Feb. 27, 1893. 

ii. Ecra Loyd E.°, b. May 4, 1874 ; m. Genella Maud Hartz- 
ell, Oct. 22, 1899. 

Ezra L. E. in 1898 served nearly seven months in the Spanish- 
American war as a private of Co. M, 8th Reg't of Ohio V. I. Fie 
wisely kept a daily journal, a thing too often neglected by men at 



The Gcnihardt Faniilv History. 12 = 



arms in L'nclc Sam's service, and from his carefully kept record 
we make up the following account of his army life — regretting 
that limited space obliges us to take no notice of many jottings of 
interest. Though he escaped the test of death-dealing battle with 
the enemy, he nevertheless experienced nearly all the trying 
ordeals incident to active army life. For a brief period he at first 
seemed to think he was having a "picnic." While at Camp Alger, 
near Washington, D. C, Company M was part of the detail to do 
guard duty at Dunn Loring, the supply station of the camp. His 
turn here for duty only came every eighth day, and all the rest of 
the time he enjoyed making pedestrian excursions throughout the 
neighborhood, and to the city, visiting all the government institu- 
tions, and acquiring all the knowledge available. Among the 
many notes of interest in his diary we may cite the following as an 
example: "June 4th. Visited the Capitol building. While 
passing through one of the lobbies several of us met the Hon. 
Thomas B. Reed. He immediately straightened up like a regu- 
lar, camie to attention, saluted us and said, "How are you, boys? 
Where are you from ?" When we said Ohio he remarked, "That 
is a good state, and only good boys come from that state." Per- 
haps he thought different when he learned that some Ohio boys 
scratched their names and regiment on the bronze doors of the 
Capitol. I am glad that no boys of the 8th did this mean thing. 
The guilty ones were arrested, but President McKinley inter- 
ceded for them, and they escaped being severely punished. It is 
safe to sav that thev will never be cauQ-ht at such a vandalic act 



agam. 



But this agreeable way of soldiering soon ceased, and the ser- 
vice became more serious and exacting. July 5th his command 
left for New York, and on the 6th the boys marched with their kits 
aboard the great flying cruiser St. Paul and at once started for the 
island of Cuba. The voyage, he says, was uneventful, but the few 
days spent on the ocean gave him and his comrades a fresh and 
pleasing experience. On the loth they arrived near Santiago and 
saw Samson's fleet of iron-clads, the discomfited Vizcaya, and 
other stranded vessels of the for several months much dreaded but 



126 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



now vanquished Spanish armada, and they thought that things 
began to seem warHke. The troops a few hours later landed at 
Siboney, a few miles east of Santiago, and went into camp in a 
little valley a short distance to the right of the landing. The next 
day Ezra had an opportunity to visit Panaderia, a village on the 
slope of a mountain about three miles from the landing, where he 
saw hundreds of the destitute and unhappy reconcentradoes 
crowded into narrow, filthy, and uncomfortable quarters, women 
and children and feeble old men, whose homes, and the homes of 
tens of thousands of their compatriots^ — in fact tens of thousands 
of the wretched inhabitants had already been starved to death — 
had been burned, their live stock driven away or killed, and their 
crops destroyed, by order of the infamous Gen. Weyler of the 
Spanish army, and the boys began more fully to realize the mean- 
ing of war, and the Spanish tyranny that had so strongly appealed 
to the moral sense and courage of Americans, to come to the relief 
of the oppressed Cubans in their brave but unequal struggle for 
freedom and independence. 

On the 1 2th the order came to break camp and march to the 
front near Santiago, and take position on the right of the firing 
line. The boys now felt that they must soon face the stern reality 
of cruel war. Fierce fighting had been going on at the front for 
days, heavy losses had been sustained, and now their rurn had 
come to try the fortune of arms, and, as they understood, in the 
most exposed position on the line. It w^as a long and wearisome 
march through rain and mud, in the heat, over mountain, and 
without water to quench racking thirst, but they had come from a 
far-ofi^ land to serve in the cause of outraged humanity, and they 
were resolved to do their duty. All along the route from Sib- 
oney to San Juan Hill the famous Rough Riders under Gen. 
Young and Col. Theodore Roosevelt, the regulars and other troops 
had fought the Spanish back step by step to their Santiago strong- 
hold, and now the lion was to be faced in his den. The boys of 
the Eighth Ohio were ready, only they did not overmuch fancy 
having the old Springfield rifles and common black powder, when 
the other fellows had smokeless powder and IMauser and Krag- 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 127 



Jorgenson rifles. But before they reached the front, however, an 
aid came in haste with orders for them to go into camp, and to do 
so they were, if possible, even more wilHng— as they were tired, 
and the heat was ahnost unbearable. And with the welcome or- 
der there came also a rumor that they hoped would prove to be 
true. 

The American (General had at noon on the nth instant sent a 
flag of truce intio the town to see if the Spanish General would 
agree to surrender, and on the 12th the truce was continued, the 
Americans kindly ofifering to convey his troops back to Spain with 
their arms if he would peaceably capitulate. Seeing that more 
troops had been landed, with additional batteries of artillery, and 
reflecting that his own soldiers were already feeling the want of 
proper nourishment, and that his supply of anuuunition was also 
getting low, General Toral wisel}- and humanely concluded that 
resistance was useless, and to save life and prevent needless suf- 
fering agreed to give up and accept the profifercd terms. 

Ezra's journal contains many notes of interest, of which the 
following are taken at random as mere examples. Under date of 
the 13th he wrote : "Scores of starving Cubans passed our camp 
to-day. I saw men, women and children pick scraps of meat and 
crumbs of hard tack out of the mud and greedily devour them." 
On the i6th, after having again changed camp, he said: "In 
camp on Seville Hill, overlooking Santiago. It is nuich healthier 
here than down in the valley. While in the valley we had a trop- 
ical thunder storm ; it was sublimely terrible ; one continual flash of 
lightning and one incessant peal of thunder, and the rain fell in 
'tubfuls,' as the boss put it." ( )n the 17th this note: "The 
Spaniards laid down their arms and marched out of Santiago at 12 
o'clock to-day." On the i8th: "Fine morning. Saw a native 
have a pig in a large sack. Its head protruded from a hole, and 
it was doing its level best at squealing." On the 19th: "It has 
raini'd some every day since we lande(l in Cnlja. It has been so 
regular that 1 have not made notes of it." 

But here, in the valley below and in the cam]) on Sc\ilk' Hill. 
an insidious encm\- more dreaded than Spanisli Inilleis liad ap- 



128 The Gernhardt Family History. 



peared, and had to be combatted That stealthy, stalking, mys- 
terious foe was believed to be none other than the universally 
dreaded Yellow Jack. Whether yellow fever, or in the great ma- 
jority of cases, the more common malarial fever, it was a fearful 
scourge, and caused a panic even among our army doctors. They 
so alarmed the authorities at Washington that the latter were 
afraid to bring the army back North for fear of spreading the dis- 
ease here ; but the alarm was groundless, as not one case followed 
the return of the troops. But the foe w^as nevertheless real and 
menacing, and there was cause for the fright. Numbers suc- 
cumbed to the scourge, and the whole army was seriously threat- 
ened. At one time there were not enough well men in Company 
M to furnish a detail to stand ^guard. Ezra contracted the fever 
on the 20th, and from that time on he never again reported for 
duty. For want of enough wagons to transport food the men at 
times had to lay down to sleep hungry. The tropical fruits, as 
cocoanuts, limes, mangoes, grape fruit, could be had, but eating 
freely of these alone made many of the soldiers sick. But worse 
yet, the climate was very trying to the unacclimated troops. It 
was the rainy season, and every day the men were drenched to the 
skin — and as a rule were sweltering by day and shivering through 
the night. The wonder is that more did not die. If the accli- 
mated Spaniards could have held out a few months longer, the 
fever — yellow or malarial — as their effective auxiliary, might have 
made their defeat a very difficult if not impossible task. 

On the 2d of August Ezra made this record : "There are so 
many of the boys sick that the field hospital was soon filled, so 
each company takes care of its own sick. The boys built a shack, 
such as the natives live in, of poles, covered with grass, with 
bunks of the same material, which, when we put our blankets on 
them, made very good beds. Private Simpson, who died last 
night, lay next to me, and when they carried him away I won- 
dered if I would be the next. I told some of the boys I would not 
die in this country if I could help it." 

On the nth of August the Eighth Ohio broke camp and 
marched to the heights of San Juan, the strong position of the 



The Gcniliardl family Ilislory. 129 

Spaniards that was so gallantly charged on the 1st of July by the 
dismounted cavalry under Sumner and by the Rough Riders under 
Wood, and where our now invalid relative could at his leisure look 
over the battlefield and learn of the disposition and movements of 
the contending forces. A few days later they once more and for 
the last time broke camp. A minute in the journal says : "Our 
days in Cuba are now numbered, thank God."' On the i8th the 
regiment boarded the Mohawk — a cattle transport that had just 
come from Porto Rico, where it had delivered a cargo of mules — 
and left Santiago harbor homeward bound, passing the sunken 
hull of the Merrimac with only a few feet of her smoke stack vis- 
ible, and when steaming by the frowning Morro Castle, wonder- 
ed ho\v in the world Hobson ever got past its many great guns. 
The condition of the cattle-ship contrasted unfavorably with that 
of the magnificent and cleanly cruiser Saint Paul of the Interna- 
tional Navigation Company, chartered and fitted u]) b\' the govern- 
ment, on which the boys had been taken to Cul)a. And besides, 
the rations were ill-suited for sick men. Neither will they ever 
forget the sad service of burial at sea. Under date of August 30 
the journal says : "Arrived home at noon. Harry Sotzen took 
me out home — and the old place never looked so good to me as it 
did that day." 

VI. CLARISSA GARNETl b. Aug. 10, 1809. Her mother 
having died when she was an infant, she was committed to the 
care of a family in the neighborhood by the name of I'losser. 
When she was four years old her father died. She missed the 
tender mercies of considerate parents, and was made so nuich of a 
menial, doing a man's work on the farm, that she was not even 
allowed to attend school a single daw lUit a hap]Mer life was in 
store for her. January 19, 1826, when seventeen, she married a 
steady and appreciative young man l)y the name of dotlob D. 
Wichterman, the son of a Lutheran clergyman, and was soon 
taught by him to read, and she found that her life mission was 
more than to make lia\-, la\- icucv rails, husk corn and cut fodder, 
however useful and honora])le the faithful i)erformanee of such 



130 The Geni/iai'dt Family History. 

hard work may be. Two }'ears later she and Gotlob moved to the 
vicinity of Lockport, N. Y., where they boii£;;ht a piece of land. 
In four years more they sold out at a bountiful profit and bought 
several hundred acres of the "Holland Purchase,"" in the town 
(township) of Royalton, eight miles east of Lockport. Gotlob 
had learned the trade of weaving, and Clarissa also soon became 
an expert weaver, and wove all the fabrics of wool and flax needed 
to clothe her family. She had a large family, and there was al- 
ways plenty of work, summer and winter, but it was very far from 
being like the pitiless and unrequieted drudgery of her early life. 
It was the kind of toil that conduces to contentment, independence 
and happiness. She died Dec. 25, 1883. Gotlob died April 8, 
1887. . They had thirteen children : 

1. John D. Wichterman^, b. Dec. 25, 1826; m. Jane G. 

Swanna, April 14, 185 1 ; r. ( ialion, O. Six children: 
i. Charles^, b. Alarch 3, 1852; d. in infancy. 

a. Frank S.^, h. July 30, 1853 ; m. Urath Williams, Sept. 
16, 1874. Two children: John G.^, b. May 8, 1875; 
Joseph W.^ b. July 17, 1891. 

Hi. Mary Agncs^, b. Jan. 30, 1856; m. Frank B. Stebbins, 
June 12, 1878; r. Shelby, Ohio. One son: Ralph^, b. 
June 22, 1885. 

iv. James D.^, b. Oct. 24, 1859; "i- Gussie A. Stewart, Oct. 
29, 1895; r. Gallon, O. ; o. merchant. One daughter: 
Mary Louise^, b. March 17, 1897. 

V, William E.^, b. June 25, 1862 ; m. Mary Hess, Oct. 4, 
1894; r. Gallon, O. ; o. merchant. Two daughters: 
Jennie E.*^, b. Sept. 24, 1896; Florence E.^, b. Nov. 20, 
1899. 

vi. Jennie C!arissa°, b. Sept. 13, 1866; m. Dr. Lincoln 
Chas. Neville, Sept. 3, 1885; r. Seattle, Washington. 
One son : Richard D.^, b. April 5, 1899. 

2. Catharine W.^ b. March 27, 1828; m. Daniel Long, Feb. 

25, 1847; he d. May 25, 1901 ; she d. March 22, 1896; r. 
Royalton, N. Y. No issue. 

3. Susanna W.*, b. Oct. 30, 1829; m. Reuben Long, July 4, 

1855; he d. Oct. 30, 1895; r. Gasport, N. Y. Five chil- 
dren, all living in Niagara County, N. Y. 



The Genilianit Family History. 13 r 

i. Hclen^, b. Ajiril 14, 1850; m. Daniel Frantz, Sept. 28, 
1878. Six children: Millard J.''. 1). Oct. 26, 1879; 
Clifford D.'', b. Oct. 24. 1881 ; Loma S.^ b. Jan. 13, 
1883 ; Edna L.'\ b. Aui^. 5, 1885 ; Marion E.^, b. Xov. 
19, 1888; Francis E.*^, b. June 28, 1890. 

ii. Francis F/\ h. Oct. 26, 1857; ^'^^- Chauncv Dvsinger, 
Sept. 2S, 1886. One son: Earl^, b. April 22, 1888. 

Hi. Sarah Luclhf\ h. March 24. i8()0; m. Almon D. Van 
Clere, Jan. 17. 1894. Two daughters: Florence'', b. 
June 23. 1895 : Ruth", b. Feb. 9, 1898. 

iv. George HJ\ h. June 29, 1863; m. Ella Mack, May 24, 
1893. Four children: Lynford M.'', b. June 10, 1894; 
Bessie M.^, b. Feb. 9, 1897; Lenora Belle*^, b. Jan. 16, 
1898; Clarence L.*^, b. July 21, 1899. 

V. Charles H.^, h. June 30, 1866; m. INlary Taylor, Sept. 
19, 1893. One son: Howard C.*', b. Jan. 25. 1899. 

4. David W.'^, b. ISIarch i, 1831 ; d. in infancy. 

5. Samuel W."^, b. [May 29, 1832; d. Aug. 2, 1838. 

6. George W.'*, b. Sept. i, 1834; d. July 21, 1838. 

7. Daniel W.^, b. May 27, 1836; d. July 16, 1838. 

8. Mary J. W.^ b. April 17, 1838; m. Simon Widrig, Feb. 18, 

1857; she d. May 17, 1894; r. Allen. Hillsdale County, 
Mich. Three children : 

i. Alice Add WJ>, b. Sept. 6, 1859; d. Jan. 18, 1862. 

//'. Clara May IV.^, h. April 19, 18^12; ni. Fred G. Baker, 
Nov. 8, 1883 ; r. Allen. Mich. Three children : D. Lev- 
erette*^, b. Aug. 19, 1884; Chauncv'^ b. Jan. 8, 1887; 
Kathleen*^, b. Jan. 18, 1890. 

Hi. Kateriiie JJ'/\ b. Xov. 14. 1870; m. J. Whitney Wat- 
kins, Xov. 17, 1892; r. Allen, Mich. When 1 wrote to 
Katerine for her family record, and gave her some 
idea of the immense family to which she belonged, she 
said in her response: "I was quite shocked to find 
that T had so many relations, but I suppose we arc all 
related by way of Adam." Her surprise will no doubt 
be shared l)y many others. Katerine is the mother of 
three of the immense family : John S.'"', b. Jan. 6. 1894; 
Thomas Whitney'^, b. May 10, 1897 — d. July 24. 1899; 
Alice Morgan'"', b. April 15. 1899. 



132 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

9. Henry W.^, b. March 21, 1840; m. Mary Swift, Dec. 30, 

1869. He d. May 15, 1870. 

10. Chauncey Wichterman^, b. March 12, 1842; m. Mary 
L. Pratt, Dec. 28, 1865 ; r. Shawnee, Niagara County, 
N. Y. 

Like many other young men during the great rebelhon who 
went forth in defense of the Old Flag, Chauncey — then a student 
at the High School at Lockport — dropped his books and went 
into the army. He was enrolled as a musician Sept. i, 1862, for 
three years or during the war, in Co. H, 151st N. Y. Vol. Infantry, 
and was discharged with the regiment at the close of the war, 
June 26, 1865. The 151st being a part of the 1st Brigade of the 
3d Division of the 6th Army Corps of the Army of the Potomac , 
his destiny was to see some rough service in the bloody campaign 
of 1864, under the fearless and inspiring Gen. Phil H. Sheridan. 

Chauncey 's recollection after almost forty years is quite vivid 
of the time when Sheridan, near the close of the campaign of '64, 
had set his camp along Cedar Creek, just above the North Fork, 
and had hurried off to Washington on some urgent war business, 
and the Confederate army under Gen. Early made a sudden and 
impetuous attack before the break of day, Oct. 19, driving our 
entire army back about four miles, taking 1,400 prisoners and 24 
pieces of artillery, and menacing it with a complete and disastrous 
rout. Sheridan had just at the critical moment of impending 
calamity arrived at Winchester from Washington, when, hearing 
by the noise of the heavy guns that his troops were 
having a serious time, he dashed ofif tO' the front wfth his escort as 
fast as the horses could run. Chauncey, standing close to the 
road on which the dashing General came, ren-^embers the very 
moment when he arrived, leading his escort at some distance, hat 
in hand, covered with dust, his fiery black charger panting and 
foaming all over with a lather of sweat ; how he was hailed all 
along the wavering lines with vociferous sliouts of delight and 
applause; how he shouted something in language, as he dashed 
by, that would not look well in print, but which stirred his men 
to the highest pitch of enthusiasm ; and how, inspired by his words 




ClIAUXCY WlCiri'KUMANi, SAXHiiUX, X. Y, 



TIic CcnihanU faiiiily History. 133 

and presence, the pressed divisions and corps were soon again 
compactly nnited, ready and eager to meet the expected renewed 
onset of the now exnlting enemy. lUit there was no waiting. 
The ebb tide for the foe had now set in, and there was no prevent- 
ing the recession. At Sheridan's command the wdiole Hne ad- 
vanced with a fervor and firmness that was irresistible, that soon 
compelled the Confederates to give .way at all points and changed 
their fierce and sudden morning assault into one of the most de- 
cisive routs of the whole war ; and that closed Sheridan's campaign 
of '64 with a glorious victory, retaking the 24 lost guns, and cap- 
turing 24 Confederate pieces in addition, besides many other 
trophies, and in turn taking as many prisoners from their ranks 
as they had taken from us and hurried away to rear in the morn- 
ing. 

As a musician Chauncey did not directly participate in the 
frequent clash of arms, but when the conflicts raged the import- 
ant duty he was required to perform made him familiar with the 
risks and horrors of war. His special service w^as to help gather 
up the wounded as they fell, and carry them from the field on 
stretchers to places of safety, where they could receive surgical 
attention. The list of battles in which the 151st N. Y. regiment 
was engaged is a long one, and a full history of Chauncey 's three 
years' service would furnish material for a book. His descend- 
ants will regret, as he now himself regrets, that he did not keep 
a journal during" these eventful years of service and make daily 
records of his duties and impressions. 

As the owner of three farms, on one of which he is living, 
Cousin Chauncey properly regards himself as a farmer. l)ut he 
has at times been engaged in various occupations besides soldier- 
ing and farming, as teaching school, serving as town assessor, six 
vears as supervisor, a numj)er of years as an insurance agent and 
dealer in real estate, twelve years as a justice of the peace, several 
terms as a notary public, and for a inimber of years as secretary 
of a cemetery association. Is the parent of ten children : 



134 The Gernhardt Family History. 



i. Lillian May^, b. Jan. 7, 1867; m. John Jillson, April, 
1883 ; r. Attica, N. Y. One son: Herbert B.^ b. April 
13, 1884. 

a. Clara E.^ b. June 8, 1868; d. Dec. 27, 1881. 

Hi. Chauncy E.^, b. March 28, 1870; d. April 10, 1873. 

iv. Mary^, b. June 25, 1871 ; d. March 31, 1872. 

V. Ulyscs^, b. Aug. 20, 1872 ; d. March 22, 1885. 

vi. Minnie lona^, b. Feb. 24, 1874; m. John Masters, Dec. 
25, 1895. Three children: Florence Mar}-*^, b. July 8, 
1897; Fern lona^, b. Oct. 28, 1899; Mildred Irene^ b. 
Sept. 8, 1902. 

z'ii. Emma E.^, b. Jan. 18, 1876; m. Henry Diller, Jan. i, 

1902. 
via. Helen A.^, b. May 4, 1879; d- Nov. 8, 1879. 

ix. Margaret E.^, b. Sept. ii, 1880; m. Leonard Flack, Jan. 
I, igo2. 

X. John A.^, b. Jan. 5, 1883. 

11. Clarissa A."*, b. Sept. 12, 1843; m. Andrew J. Behe, Feb. 
6, 1868; r. Niagara County, N. Y. She d. July 5, 1895. 
Three children : 

i. Ora A.^ b. Dec. 8, 1868. 

a. Myrtie J.^, b. April 26, 1871 ; m. Charles E. Ranney, 
July 22, 1896; r. Buffalo, N. Y. 

Hi. Daniel G.^, b. Aug. 20, 1879. 

12. Sarah E.^, b. April 27, 1846; d. June 22, 1847. 

13. Edward L. Wichterman^, b. June 12, 1848; m. Annie 
Baer, Feb. 6, 1868; r. Gully, Polk County, Minn. Ten 
children : 

i. Leon M. W.^, b. April 23, 1869; m. Katharine Rodman, 
Dec. 2, 1891. Five children: Arthur Monroe^, b. Oct. 
30, 1892 ; Raymond Roy^, b. April 28, 1894 ; Jonas Gay- 
heart^, b. Dec. 27, 1896; Minnie Estella'^, b. Aug. 16, 
1899; Elsie Ann^, b. Dec. 23, 1900. 

ii. Hattie R.^, b. Nov. 26, 1870; m. William C. L. Demann, 
Nov. 2, 1888. Three children: Charles Edward^, b. 
Aug. 14, 1889 — d. Aug. 14, 1891 : Edith May^, b. June 
30, 1891 ; Rose Ann^, b. Feb. 26, 1895. 



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The Gcniliardt Faiiiily History. 135 

Hi. Jonas B. f/'.s, b. May 20, 1872; ni. Mathilda Larson, 
May 20. 1896. "Three children: Edward Selmar^, b. 
March 19, 1898; Mabel Josephine"^, b. Sept. 11, 1899; 
Lydia Anjuline^, b. Sept. 23, 1901. 

IV. Florence M.^, h. Aug. 9, 1874; m. Jule Lasha, May 9, 
1898 ; r. Red Lake Falls, Minn. Four children : Wal- 
ter Anthony^, b. March i, 1899; Roy Eli'^, b. Feb. 27, 
1900 — d. May 31, 1901 ; Leo Edward^, b. May 21, 1901 ; 
Arthur Raymond^, b. Sept. 26, 1902. 

V. Charles E. Jl\\ b. Uarch 31. 1878; d. April 25, 1881. 

z'i. Sarah AJ\ b. Feb. 25, 1880; m. Charles J- Strande, Oct. 
10, 1900. One child : Edgar Johan*^, b. Jan. 16, 1902. 

vii. Rosa E.^, h. March 12, 1882; m. Frank P. Bender, July 
12, 1899. One child: Archie Clarence^, b. May 30, 
1901. 

via. Clarissa^, b. June 12, 1884. 

ix. Alice May'^, b. Oct. 4, 1887. 

X. Julia Anrr', b. Jan. 22, 1890. 

14. Charles Luther Wichterman^, b. Nov. 14, 1852 ; m. 
Eliza Frantz, Dec. 26, 1877; r. Royalton, N. Y. One son: 
Roy^, b. April 22, 1882; m. Jessie Brewer, Dec. 4, 1901. 



Vn. LYDIA GARNETS, b. July 18, 1812 ; m. James Clarkx ; 
r. Venice Township, Seneca County, O. She d. Sept. 16, 1868. 
Had seven children : 

1. Jonathan Clarr-^, b. Jan. 8, 1834; m. Alary A. Ruml)ler 

about 1865. He d. in Wood County, O., April 7, 1888. 
Six children'^ : 

2. Margaret C.'*, b. Aug. 23, 1835 ; m. John Hosmer^ ; r. Sen- 

eca County. ( ). She d. April 22, 1863. Two children : Ly- 
diaS, b. Jan. i r. 1858 ; J()hn'\ b. Sept. i860. 

3. Jacot. Clark*, b. March 17, 1836; m. Mary Ann Sipsey, 

April 28, 1861 ; r. Tiffin, O. Seven children: 

i. Amanda Jane C.^, b. Oct. 4, 1863 ; m. Aaron Bordner, 
March 22, 1883 '■> ^- Ashley, Ind. Two children : Llovd 
\\.\ 1). AFay T4, 1884; Or'ra J.*^. 1). May 14. 1886. 



136 TJic GcrnJiardt Family History. 

a. Martha Ellen C.^ b. Feb. 14, 1866: m. first, David Wal- 
ters, Feb. 14, 1899; second, Martin Leffler, Dec. 21, 
1898; r. Tiffin, O. Three children: Francis B. Wal- 
ters6, b. June 13, 1886; Harry A. W.^, b. March 12, 
1890; Dalton B. W.^, b. Oct. 14, 1892. 

Hi. Charles C.^, b. Sept. 7, 1868; m. Riibie Montrose. Feb. 
23, 1902 ; r. Tift'in, O. 

tv. WilliaiJi Henry C.^, b. Nov. 24, 1871 ; m. Nora Cobbler, 
April 5, 1899 ; r. Garret, Ind. One son : Ralph Eldred*^, 
b. March 20, 1900. 

v. Sarah Katharine C.^, h. Sept. 7, 1875 ; m. Rufus Swme- 
hart, Feb. 24, 1902; r. Toledo, O. One daughter: 
Ellen '\ b. Nov. 2, 1902. 

z'i. Bell C.°. b. Dec. 27. 1877; m. Jesse A. Lee, June 22, 
1897 ; r. Sherman City, Mich. Two children : Net- 
tie Pearl^, b. April i, 1898; Bessie K.*^, b. April i, 1900. 

vii. Emery S. Clark^, b. Oct. i, 1880. 

4. Mary Ann C.*, b. April 8, 1841 ; m. Sidney Bevard, July 
16, 1861 ; r. Moates, O. Six children : 

i. George Bevard^, b. May 18, 1862; m. Edna Roselle 
Hunt, Nov. 15, 1900; r. Coldwater, Mich. 

a. Euphemia B.^, h. April 17, 1864; m. Robert Schwable, 
Dec. 15, 1891 ; r. Moates, O. One daughter: Katie^, 
born, Aug. 26, 1893. 

Hi. Lillie B.^, b. May 5, 1866; m. George Benner, May 8, 
1886; r. Nev, O. Two children: Gladvs'^, b. April 21, 
1888; Jay6,"b. Dec. 19, 1894. 

iv. Loz'iea B.^, b. June 16, 1868; d. Oct. 25, 1870. 

v. Ollie B.^, b. March 19, 1871 : m. Clarence Gilbert, Sept. 
13, 1888: r. Hicksville, O. Three children: George^, 
b. June 20, 1890; Grace^, b. June 25, 1893: Chester^, 
b. Sept. 26, 1897. 

vi. Beda B.^, h. Sept. 27, 1875. 

■5. David'*, b. Jan. 3, 1844: m. Christena Sipsey, April 25, 1867; 
r. Maple Grove, Mich. 

6. Martha E.^, b. Jan. 24, 1847; "i- fii'st, Milton A. Basore, 
Oct. 21, 1868; r. Maple Grove, Mich. ; he d. Dec. 29. 1876; 



TJic Gcnihardt Family Hislory. 137 

m. second, W. C. JNIeek, Oct. 2y, 1881. Four children: Ada 
A. B.5, b. May 31, 1869; Malcolm P. B.^, b. April 15, 1872; 
Myrtie B. B.s, b. Jan. 8. 1874; Ora Glenn Meek^, b. July 
I, 1886. 

7. Sophia Jane*, b. May 25, 1849 > m- Solomon Miller, June 
3, 1869. She d. at Charlotte, Mich., Dec. 12, 1900. Four 
children : 

i. John Albert^, b. Sept. 4, 1875 ! m- I<^'a Bower, June 30, 
1898; r. Carothers, O. 

a. Mary Hannah^, h. Aug. 16, 1877 ; m. David Rife, March 
22, 1899 ; r. Carothers, O. 

///'. JJlIIiaiii Edz^'ard^, b. Aug. 21, 1880. 

/:'. Jesse Bciijaiiiiii^\ b. Sept. 20, 1885. 



VIIL ANNA MARIA E. GARNET^, b. early in 1814, about 
two or three months after the death of her father ; m. Stephen 
Friedley, in 1835. She d. in 1849, "■! Venice Township, Seneca 
County, O. Had six children : 

1. Catharine Friedley*, \ 

2. George Friedley*, b.^ ; m. Fannie Linder^. Had nine chil- 

dren : Millie^, Lettie, Katharine, John, Frank, Floid, Elsie, 
George*, and Lawrence. 

3. LoviNA Friedley*, b. 1839; m. Thomas Chamberlin, May 
22, i860; r. Dunkirk, O. Nine children: 

/. George^, h. i\ug. 25, 1862 ; m. Jennie Davis, of Dunkirk, 
Aug. 21, 1889. He d. March 20, 1898. 

a. Emilia^, b. Feb. 11, 1865 ; m. M. Flowers, Oct. 24, 1888; 
r. Dunkirk. One child: Adelpha"^. b. Dec. 6, 1889. 

///. Ada'\ h. April 6, 1867; d. March 26. 1881. 

iv. Hattic^, b. March 20, 1869; m. William H. Greer, Aug. 
14, 1891 ; r. Birmingham, Alabama. Two children: 
Roka". b. June 13, 1894; Ford Thomas^, b. March 12, 
1901. 



*Oeorge5,><; m. Jennie Harris^. Five children: Roan*', Alta (deceased), 
James, I'aul, Earl. 



138 The Gernhardt Family History. 

V. EUa^, b. March 25, 1871 ; m. Tustin Solomon Corbinx. 
Four children: Chalmer^, (deceased), Cletis, Daisey, 
George. 

z'i. Roka^, b. March 2, 1873; m. Joseph Outland. Aug. i, 
1894; r. North Judson, Ind. Two children: Garnet^, 
Thomas^. 

vii. Edifh^, b. July 15, 1875; d. Oct. 4, 1876. 

viii. Daiira^, b. May 18, 1878; d. March 15, 1881. 

ix.. Nettie^, b. May 25, 1880. 

4. Sarah Ann Friedley^'^ ; m. John Bloom ; d. 1880. Had 
six children'* : 

5. Rebecca Friedley^, b. 1843 • ^- i" childhood. 

6. Amanda Friedley*,^; m. Finley Wringal"; d. in 189S. 

Five children \^ 

III. 

ANNA ELIZABETH GERNHARDT BRANCH. 

Anna Elizabeth, the third comer into life of the second gen- 
eration, who never married, was born April 3, 1776, and died July 
8, 1854. She lived to be 78 years, 3 months and 5 days old, and 
therefore lived a longer life than any of the other nine of Flein- 
rich's and Rosine's children. The next oldest at death, and the 
only one that survived Anna Elizabeth, was Anna Maria Williams, 
who departed from, the land of the living eight years afterwards, 
at the age of 75 years and 6 months. Jacob was the first of the 
family to pay the debt we all owe to Mother Earth, and, as al- 
ready stated, probably died when he was still somewhat under 
forty years old, or when he was hardly more than half Anna Eliz- 
abeth's age. The combined ages at death of Anna E's sisters and 
brothers was about 546 years, making their average ages about 60 
years, hence she survived their mean ages about 18 years. She 
was 19 years old when she left (1795) the place of her birth, 
and was already 29 years old when (1805) her father bought the 
Sinking Spring property. After Heinrich's demise (1820) she 
made her home with her youngest brother, Baltzer, until he died 




MKS. M.VKIA WAI.TONt, MUXCY, PA. 

IloI'EWEI.I, \VALT()N<. .IiHIX \VALT()N5. 

REATKICK \VAI.T(iX«. 



I 



The Gernhardt Family History. 139 

(1851), and after his decease she spent her few remaining days 
with his youngest son, Daniel, who had just married and com- 
menced housekeeping, and had soon after taken a portion of his 
father's farm. She is remembered as having been long a patient, 
faithful and useful member of Baltzer's household, as a kind old 
aunt, whom the children loved hardly less than they loved their 
mother, but of her early life nothing is now remembered, because 
not one is now alive who knew her then. In the illustration of the 
old family burial place, in which the present house of worship is 
shown, the headstone on which the writer's right hand rests, 
marks her place of repose, alongside of the grave of her brother, 
Baltzer, from whom she had never been separated until death did 
them part ; and it seems almost as certain, after critical study of 
the ground, that she is also restmg next to her parents, Heinrich 
and Rosine, who, with Philip's first wife, are believed to be lying 
in the same row, between her grave and the church. What recol- 
lections that would interest us all now went down with them into 
their abodes of silence! 

"They loved, but the story we cannot unfold; 
They scorned, but the heart of the haughty is cold; 
They grieved, but no wail from their slumbers will come; 
They joyed, but the tongue of their gladness is dumb. 

They died, aye! they died; and we things that are now, 

Who walk on the turf that lies over their brow, 

Who make in their dwellings a transient abode, 

Meet the things that they met on their pilgrimage road." 

IV. 

PHILIP GARNHART BRANCH. 

Philip, the fourth of Heinrich's children, was born March i, 
1779, in a dark period of the colonial struggle for Independence — 
though events of a few months later cheered up the disheartened 
patriots, as for instance, when a little more than four months later 
General Wayne stormed Stony Point and captured the garrison. 
When Heinrich purchased the Sinking Spring tract (1805), Philip 
was twenty-six years old. He was twice married, but who his 
first wife was. where she was born, whether she came with him 



140 The Gernhardt Family History. 



ivom beyond the Blue Mountain, or whether he married her soon 
after he came to the valley of the Susquehanna, there appears to 
be no existing record to show, and no one now living knows. She 
died, as near as can be ascertained, about 18 10. Her grave, like 
Heinrich's and Rosine's, is unmarked and forgotten, but is be- 
lieved to be in the old Delaware Run churchyard and in the same 
row with theirs. Her daughter, Catharine, the orphan legatee 
named in Heinrich's will, was born January 13, 1806, and was al- 
ready four years old when, at her mother's death, she was taken 
and adopted by her aunt, Magdalena Shafer. His second wife 
was Mary Magdalena Bieber, of Lycoming County, with whom he 
united in marriage about 181 1, and had seven children. She was 
a daughter of Adam Bieber, an old soldier of the Revolution, who 
was one of the early settlers of Muncy Valley. Philip was a far- 
mer, but also for some time along with farming kept a tavern, 
known in later years as Shipman's Tavern, in Moreland Township, 
Lycoming County, and only about one hour's drive from where 
his sister, Margaret Litchard, then lived. He died June 9, 1843, i" 
his 65th year, having, after the family settlement in Northumber- 
land County, never lived more than twO' or three hours' drive from 
the Sinking Spring. Mary Magdaline died in Muncy July 30, 
1851. Both are buried in Hill's graveyard, where her parents re- 
pose, near the eastern border of Muncy Borough, in a beautiful 
spot on a bank, but in an old, overgrown and sadly neglected re- 
ceptacle of the dead, which is now no longer used, and seems des- 
tined to vanish in "the swallowing gulf of dark oblivion." The 
descendants of Philip are : 

I. CATPIARINE3, the daughter by his first wife, was b. Jan. 
13, 1806, in Delaware (then Turbut) Township, Northumberland 
County, Pa. She was raised by her aunt, Magdalena, as already 
stated, and taken by her in 1812 to Sparta, in what is now Living- 
ston County, N. Y. She was also in time twice married, first to 
Daniel W. Cruger, of Dansville, N. Y., April 3, 1825, and second 
to James Coller, of the same place, in 1836. She died at Scotts- 
burg, N. Y., May 17, i860. Had four children: 



/ 




CI.AKISSA M<XIX(Hi, 1S30-1S99, AND IIEl! Ill' 
\\ KSTFIKLU, TA. 



I'.ANK. 



The Gcniliardt I'aiJiily Ilislory. 141 

1. Eliza Crugek^, b. Pel). 11. 1826; d.'Oct. 20, 1831. 

2. Elizabeth Cruger^, h. June 20, 1827; d. Aug-. 22, 1828. 

3. Clarissa Cruger'^, b. Oct. 20. 1830; m. John .McXinch, 

March 28, 1850; r. W'estfield, Pa. She d. Jan. 14, i8tjy. 
Had nine children : 

/. Matt/iC'W Eugene^, h. March 5, 185 1 ; m. A. Amanda 
Brownell. Jan. i, 1874; r. W'estfield, Pa.; o. dairyman. 
One daughter: Ada'^, b. Sept. 26, 1875; m. Delos Coop- 
er, March 13. 1895 ; r. Little Marsh, Pa. One son : Le- 
land Eugene", b. Sept. 13, 1896; d. Sept. 28, 1901. 

//. Ella AIaria°, b. June 21, 1852; m. William Krisher, 
Aug. 20, 1873 ; William d. April 20, 1897 ; r. Scottsburg, 
N. Y. Four children : 

a. Murrax^', b. Mav 29, 1874; m. Iva Snvder, March 27^, 
1898. ' 

h. Walter^, b. Dec. 4, 1876; m. Sadie Hill, Nov. 24, 1899. 

c. Flonts^\ b. Sept. 7, 1878. 

d. Acidic^, b. Aug. 23, 1884; m. Berton A. Crotsen 

///. Lczi'is Adclbcyt-\ b. Dec. 12, 1853; m. Delia M. Web- 
ster, Nov. 10, 1877; r. Dansville, N. Y. One daughter: 
Nellie6, b. April 21. 188 1. 

iv. Malina Louise'', b. Oct. 30, 1855; d. July 31, 1878; m. 
Henry Keilile'^. 

z'. Sarah Elizabeth^, b. Dec. 23, 1857: m. William Scott; 
she d. Jan. 17, 1893; n. c. 

z'i. Alonao Cniger^, h. Feb. 17, i860; m. Tda Thomas, Feb. 
4, 1885; r. W'estfield, Pa. Two children: PFarry^, b. 
Nov. 19, 1885; Gates E.^, b. July 8, 1893. 

vii. George JVasliiiigtoii'', b. Mav i ^, 1862; d. Oct. 10, 
1862. 

znii. James Ifarrisoiv\ b. July 22, 1863 ; m. Ada Martin, 
Feb. 6,1880 ; r. Knoxvillc, Pa. Four children: Leland^. 
b. June 23, 1886; Clifford'', 1). Dec. i 1. 1888; Gerald^, b. 
Aug. 2^, 1890; Glenna'', 1). Ajiril 2i), 1895. 

ix. Susan E.stcllr', h. Jan. i, 1866; r. Rochester, X. Y., with 
her aunt .Malina. 



142 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



4. Malina CollerS b. May 12, 1838; m. James E. Brownell 
(merchant), Nov. 22, i86o;-r. Rochester, N. Y. Three 
children : 

i. Flora E.^, b. Jan. 24, 1862; m. Walter Dryer (architect), 
Dec. 31, 1885; r. Rochester, N. Y. Two children: 

a. John Laverne^, b. Dec. 18, 1863; r. Rochester, N. Y. ; o. 
merchant. 

Hi. Onnolee Brownell^, b. Aug. 23, 1868 ; m. Samuel Pat- 
terson, July 14, 1892 ; r. Rochester, N. Y. One child : 
Florence Marguerite^, b. Jan. 15, 1895. 



II. ROSENA FETTERMAN3, ^ ^bout 181 2 ; m. John Me- 
cum, Jan. 8, 1832. Settled in Indiana in 1849. She d. a few- 
years later. He d. in 1877, in A'an Buren County, Mich. They 
had three children : 

1. William M. Mecum^, b. Feb. 6, 1834; died in boyhood. 

2. Adam Porter Mecum*, b. April 19, 1840; m.^ ; r. IMiddle- 
burg, Ind. 

He served three years and nine months in the 23d Indiana 
Heavy Artillery, and participated in many of the great battles of 
the Civil War, as Nashville, Lookout Mountain, Stone River, 
Goldsboro, etc. It was his good fortune to pass through them all 
"without a scratch," as he wrote me in October, 1898, — since 
which date I have not heard from him, — but at the battle of At- 
lanta he unfortunately lost his hearing. Having had no opportu- 
nity to interview him, I cannot give any of his recollections, and 
personal experiences during his long term of service, which would 
certainly have made interesting reading for his many kinsmen, es- 
pecially to his descendants, and to his relatives who fought in the 
same memorable battles. He was the parent of eleven children, 
seven of whom he mentioned as living at the time he wrote, viz : 
Charles A.^, Ada M.^, Chauncey A.^, John W.^ Nora V.^, Dora\ 
and Jocia^. 

3. Elizabeth Mecum^, b. Oct. 20, 1848; d. young. 



The GernJiardt Family History. 143 



III. DAVID GARNHART3, b. July 2. 18 13. Accordiug 
to the headstone on his grave, in the old W alton grave\ard, be- 
tween ]Muncy and the Susquehanna River, he was born in 181 7, 
but his certificate of baptism has been preserved and shows that 
he was born in 1813. He married Miss Charlotte Walton, a 
granddaughter of James Walton, one of the first permanent set- 
tlers of Penn's Manor, of ]\Iuncy, who in December, 1791, bought 
his tract of 459 acres of the provincial proprietaries, John Penn, 
the elder, and John Penn, the younger. Charlotte was a sister of 
Fleming Walton, who married Maria, the youngest of her hus- 
band's sisters. David died Oct. 8, 1842, and she died Dec. 17, 
1868. They had— 

1. Mary E. Garnhart"*, b. July. 1840; d. (3ct. 16, 1842. 

2. David Bieber Garnhart^, b. Aug. 17. 1842; m. ]\Iary ^l. 

Dimm, Feb. 9, 1864; r. Muncy, Pa. Eight children: 

i. Emily Elixihctli Ganiharfi, b. Sept. 27, 1865 ; m. An- 
drew S. Gaunt, July 3, 1888; r. Muncy, Pa. 

a. Harry S. G.^, h. Aug. 2, 1868; m. ]\Irs. Emma Jane 
Boyle, of Tower City, Sept. 7, 1901 ; r. Muncy, Pa. 

Hi. Harriet L. G.^, b. March 9, 1871 ; m. Frank Merrill, 
Feb. 18, 1892; r. Muncy, Pa. 

iv. William J. G.^, b. Nov. 20, 1873 ; d. March 18, 1874. 

V. George IV. G.^, b. Feb. 21, 1875; m. Miss Maud M. 
Frey, March 23, 1899. One daughter: Pearl J. Garn- 
hart. 

vi. Albert G.^, b. Sept. 28, 1877. 

vii. David D. G.^, b. Nov. 20, 1880 ; m. Mama Belle Hauke, 
Sept. 24, 1903. 

via. Edith A. G.^, b. Jan. 6, 1885, 

IV. SARAH KELLEY GARNHART^, b. Nov. 23, 1816; 
m. William Cruse, x\pril 8, 1850. 

They moved from Muncy Valley to Calhoun County, Michi- 
gan, in 1853, carrying with tlieni all their worldly possessions in 
a one-horse wagon. This may have been before Horace Greely 
gave his well-known advice, "Go West, }t)ung man ! go West," 



144 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

but all the same William and Sarah thought it was the onl}- way 
for them to become the owners of a good farm. They drove their 
stakes on a piece of good land, — which, though it did not cost 
much, nearly depleted their pocketbook, — and they had a hard and 
long struggle before their pluck and industry brought them their 
well deserved reward of prosperity. I remember William remark- 
ing to me — in June, 1879, when I was in the west, and on my re- 
turn home stopped off at his farm for several days — that he had 
hauled wood about twelve miles, to Marshall, with a yoke of oxen, 
and was glad to get even 50 cents for the load. But in time he 
had a good and well-improved farm, and at the time of my visit 
was enjoying a beautiful and comfortable home. She died April 
14, 1890. Had three children: 

1. Mary Emma Cruse^, b. July 3, 1852; d. Nov. 17, 1874. 

2. Clara Walton Cruse*, b. Oct. 14, 1856; m. Burton Wil- 
liam Gleason, March 26, 1902. 

3. James Hervey Cruse-*, b. Sept. 6, 1858 ; m. first, Miss Mary 

Goodrich, Nov. 26, 1879; she d. Oct. 18,1895; m. second, 
Mrs. Ellenora Perkins, Jan. 16, 1900; r. Hudson, Mich.; 
o. dealer in lumber, coal, etc. One son : Homer William 
Cruse^ b. May 13, 1883. 

One of the pleasing reminiscences of the visit above mentioned 
may here be related. I had read of persons who had tamed wild 
birds without making captives of them, but had never witnessed a 
sight so novel. Having read in Darwin's journal of the V^oyage 
of the Beagle, of the extreme tameness of the birds on the Gala- 
pagos Archipelago, where the}' had not yet learned to know and 
fear man as a dangerous animal, and where the great naturalist 
said a gun was almost useless, as he pushed a hawk off the branch 
of a tree with the muzzle of one, there was no doubt in my mind 
that birds would be as tame everywhere if never molested, and 
that their confidence and friendship could be enjoyed if never de- 
ceived and harmed. Having already heard that Miss Clara Cruse 
had wonderful success in taming the wild birds of different species 
that sojourned during the summer months about the farm and in 
the adjacent woods, without making prisoners of them, and only by 



T]ic Gcrnliardt Family History. 145 



her adroitness and gentleness, I soon asked for some demonstration 
of her forte and method of making friends of the winged migrants. 
She explained that she had of late rather neglected her feathered 
friends, and was apprehensive that her effort to entertain me with 
their help might not be very satisfactory. She provided herself 
with some bread crumbs, then led the wa}- out into the yard and 
began calling, as if she were trying to assemble some of her es- 
teemed neighbors. I was soon gratified to see a little bird come 
antl light on a picket fence quite near her, as if inclined to come to 
her. She continued calling, and in a few moments more several 
others followed. By and by she reached out her hand, and soon, 
to my surprise and delight, one of the twittering little creatures lit 
on it and fearlessly began to pick up the crumbs she held in it. 
Directly another came and perched on her shoulder, and others 
came near, as if strongly inclined to come to her, but evidently feel- 
ing somewdiat uneasy for some reason that I did not understand, 
possibly because a stranger was on the scene, or they may have 
been disturbed by seeing one of the cats about, or they did not alto- 
gether, under the circumstances, trust their of late somewhat neg- 
lected friend, or the birds that responded may not have been the 
friends who knew her best. But whatever the cause of their timid- 
ity, I saw enough to satisfy me that all I had heard and read was 
true. By kindness and gentleness Miss Clara was able to win, and 
had, year after year, won the confidence of the free and wild birds 
so that they would light on her hand, her head and shoulders, and 
when she gently raised her hand to her face they w'ould ])ick the 
crumbs of bread out of her mouth. The secret of all this lay en- 
tirely in her power of kindness and patience, of never betraying the 
confidence once gained, of never frightening them, and of never 
disappointing them when she invited them to come and get a meal. 
The birds simply learned to love and trust her, just as she loved and 
trusted tln' Itirds. T have often recalled and spoken of the unusual 
and beautiful sight of the tamed free 1)ir(ls 1 witnessed on this 
visit, and am well satisfied that // we would one and all be as kind, 
gentle and patient with the feathered tribes, they would in time be- 
come domesticated and have no fear (^f the Lords of Creation. But 



146 TJie Gernhardt Family History. 

that equivocal "if" ! I hope every boy who has some of the blood of 
Heinrich and Rosine in his veins is being taught to spare the birds. 
(But don't spare the mischievous and destructive English Spar- 
rows). 

V. ANDREW GARNHART3, died in infancy. 

VI. ADAM GARNHART3, died in infancy. 

VII. HANNAH BIEBER GARNHART3, b. June 10, 
1823; m. James W. Lyman, Feb. 11, 1841. Migrated from Muncy, 
Pa., to Wisconsin, in 1852. He died at Oconomowoc, Oct. 2, 1893, 
and she died in Milwaukee, Aug. 19, 1895. They had five chil- 
dren : 

1. Albert Clark Lyman^, b. March i, 1842; m. first, Jennie 

Ritche, Dec. 28, 1864; she d. Dec. 4, 1868; m. second, 
Elizabeth Francis Peardon, Oct. 29, 1872 ; r. Oconomowoc. 
Five children : 

i. Jessie Belle Lymaiv', b. March 5, 1866. 

ii. Stephen Williamson (Lyman)^, b. Oct. 19, 1868; m.x 
Aug. 31, 1887. His mother died when he was not yet 
two months old, and, in accordance with her departing 
wish, he was adopted by his uncle and aunt, Josias Les- 
lie, and his name was by law changed to Stephen Wil- 
liamson Leslie ; r. Oconomowoc, Wis. Four children : 
Williard Henry^, b. Sept. 2y, 1888; Vergie Maria*^, b. 
May 12, 1890; Harold Josias^, b. Jan. 15, 1894; Hazel 
Jane'', b. Oct. 25, 1895. 

Hi. Liiella^, b. July 4, 1873. 

iv. Jennie Maria^, b. Oct. 17, 1874. 

V. Frances Jane^, h. March 5, 1884. 

2. Anna Maria Lyman^, b. April i, 1844; m. Josias Leslie, 
Jan. 2, 1865 ; r. Oconomowoc, Wis. No children, but legal- 
ly adopted two, Stephen Williamson^, son of her brocher, 
Albert, by his first wife, and Mary^, the second daughter of 
her deceased sister, Mary Catharine Cole. Her husband 
served three years in the Civil War as a member of Co. F, 
First Regiment of Wisconsin Cavalry. Was born in Lon- 
donderry, Ireland. He died Feb. 21, 1896. 



The Gcniliardt Family History. 147 

3. Mary Catharine Lyman*, b. Aug. 25, 1847; "''• Alman" 
J. Cole, Jan. i, 1867; r. Footville, Wis. She d. Jan. 21, 
1881. Had three children: 

i. Nettie May Cole-', b. July 22, 1870; m. Charles Lawton 
Griswold, (Jet. 22, 1890; r. Bancroft, Iowa, where her 
husband has a jewelry store. 

//. Oren Lyman Cole^, b. Jan. 4, 1876. 

Oren is one of the four of our kin who were in the Spanish- 
American War. having served in the Philippine Islands as a mem- 
ber of Co. B of the 13th Minnesota Regiment. His first experi- 
ence of actual war occurred soon after reaching Manila, when his 
regiment was ordered into the trenches and took a leading part in 
the first important land battle. At the time of his enlistment he 
was studying civil and electric engineering, and having acquired 
sufficient knowledge in that line to make him useful, was soon de- 
tailed for special service on a supply train under General Lawton. 
Having also readily gained some knowledge of the Spanish lan- 
guage, he was next assigned to a particular duty on the then much 
needed police force in Manila. By a mutual friend I was inform- 
ed that he received special mention for his valuable service and 
bravery. A more minute account of his army life would have been 
very interesting, and many, I am sure, will hereafter regret that 
this sketch is so meagre. Several letters I addressed to him ap- 
pear never to have reached him, and — now I can not any longer 
delay the publication of this book. 

Hi. Mary Anna (Cole)^, h. Jan. 11, 1881. When only to 
days old, at the death of her mother, she was adopted by 
her uncle and aunt, Josias Leslie, and her name changed 
by decree of court to Mary Anna Leslie. She graduated 
first from the Idigh School at Oconomowoc, Wis., and 
afterwards, Jan. 24, 1902, from the State Normal 
School, at Whitewater, and immediately thereafter com- 
menced teaching music and drawing. 

4. James Hope Lyman'*, b. Oct. 2, 1855 : m. first. Mary J. 

Hungerford, Sept. 7, 1878; second, I'clle Westbury'^ ; third, 

Jose]:)hine , Aug. 14, 1893; r. Jolict, 111. One son: 

Wallace Guy Lyman^, b. Jan. i, 1883. 



148 The Gernhardt Family History. 

5. Eddy Ellsworth Lyman*, b. Jan. 26, 1864; m. May Belle 
Esther Bullard, Mar. 9, 1886: r. JoHet, 111. Four children: 
Elsworth Elgie^, b. June 19, 1887; Undine Mae^, b. Nov. 
29, 1889; Charles Allen^, b. Sept. 13, 1890; Isabella Jane^, 
b. Nov. 8, 1891. 



VIII. MARIA WILLIAMS GARNHART^, b. Jan. i, 1826; 
ni. Fleming" Walton, brother of the wife of her brother David, 
Feb. 22, 1848; r. Muncy, Pa. He died Dec. 8, 1855. She is one of 
the now five sole survivors of the third generation of Heinrich's 
and Ro'sine's descendants. Had three children : 

1. Clara Amelia Walton*, b. Dec. 29, 1848; m. William 

Goodenow, Jan. 22, 1868. He died in Philadelphia Feb. 2, 
1898. Had four children : 

i. Jannct Pctrikcn Goodenozifi, b. Jan. 15, 1869 ; m. William 
Herbert Stiles, Nov. 3, 1897; r. Riverton, N. J. 

a. Cornelia Evans Goodcnozv^, b. Nov. 20, 1871 ; m. Daniel 
D. W. Bastian, of Allentown, Pa. ; r. Plainfield, N. J. 

Hi. Horace Grcclv Goodenozv^, b. Oct. i, 1873 ; d. at Muncy, 
Pa., Feb. 5, 1889. 

iv. Gernerd Walton Goodcnozi'^, b. Jan. 22, 1879; m. Mary 
Werts Shaw, June 8, 1898 ; r. Philadelphia. He d. of 
smallpox, Dec. — , 1901. One child: Crude Jarrett 
Goodenow^ b. May 26, 1900. 

2. Thomas Hopewell Walton*, b. Oct. 5, 1851; m. Clara 
Deborah Rooker, March 13, 1877 ; r. Muncy, Pa. One son : 

i. John Rooker Walton^, b. March 3, 1878; m. Bessie Vi- 
ola Mulligan, April 19, 1900 ; r. Troy, Pa. Children : 
Beatrice Leona^, b. Nov. 15, 1900; Ouindara Thelma^, 
b. Sept. 21, 1902. 

3. Alfred Levan Walton*, b. April 13, 1853; m. Alice M. 

Moss, Sept. 16, 1872; r. Muncy, Pa. Four children: 

i. Charles Ozven Walton,^, b. March 28, 1876; m. Stella 
Maud Houseknecht, May 11, 1895 ; r. Muncy, Pa. Two 
children : Ruth VanB. Walton^, b. Nov. 20, 1895 ; Har- 
ry Leslie Walton*^, b. July 23, 1897. 




CATIIAUINK COIJ.KH!, SCOTTSTUK(i, X. V. 
1S0()-KS60. 



The GcDilianlf faiiiily Hislory. 149 

//. Edyth Louisa Gcrncrd Walton^, b. Feb. 7, 1878 ; m. 
Frank Howard Snvder, Oct. 2, 1902; r. Mahanov Citv, 
Pa. 

/;■/. Mahcl Moss Walton^, b. May 4, 1880. 

iv.^SiiSQn Corncalisoii JValfoiv', h. July 6, 1886. 

JOHN GERNERT BRANCH. 

John, as already stated, remained in Northampton County, and 
settled in Upper ^lacungie Township, — a name derived from 
Mauc/i-Kiiiifshy, an Indian name, meaning "the eating place of 
bears," — but now a part of Lehigh County, in one of the best sec- 
tions of the fertile Lehigh A'alley, where, after he had worked at 
his trade of chairmaking several years, he married Catharine 
Siegfried, the adopted daughter of Heinrich Brobst, a prosperous 
farmer, in August, 1805. As her foster father had no other heir 
Catharine inherited his fine farm, which is pleasanth' situated near 
the village of Breinigsville. She was born February 10, 1788, and 
died July 7, 1844. At the time of her marriage she was but little 
past seventeen, while John was in his twenty-fifth year. They had 
more children — thirteen, as one died nameless, and does not ap- 
pear in the record below — and have become the ancestors of more 
grandchildren and great grandchildren than any of the other sons 
and daughters of Heinrich and Rosine. They were a frugal, home- 
loving and diligent couple, and managed their aiTairs so well that 
years before she died they owned three fine contiguous farms. He 
was now 64 years old, and the youngest of their twelve children 
was already a young man, when she was called away to the silent 
land where the wear}^ are at rest. The bereavement so overwhelm- 
ed him that he soon became afflicted with chronic melancholy, after 
which he took but little interest in the afifairs of life. ]\Iy only 
personal recollection of him is while he was in this unhappy con- 
dition. After lingering in this state for seven years he died, Au- 
gust 14, 1 85 1, and was tenderly laid beside the faithful consort 
for whom he had so deeply mourncHl. by eight of his robust sons. 



150 The Gernhardt Family History. 



who acted as pall bearers, in the old burying ground of the Re- 
formed and Lutheran Church, at Trexlerstown. 

A singular fact mav here be mentioned. At the centennial eel- 
ebration of Chemistry, held in 1874, at the town of Northumber- 
land, in Northumberland County, Pa., the last place of residence 
and final resting place of the celebrated Dr. Joseph Priestley, \yho 
in 1774 had discovered oxygen, and made known to the world 
many other things — of whom the great Cuvier, after speaking of 
his greatest discoveries, before the French Academy of Sciences, 
said, "time forces us to neglect a multitude of others which would 
of themselves furnish ample materials for the eulogy of another 
man" — many interesting articles were placed on exhibition that had 
once belonged to the renowned philosopher, as books, manuscripts, 
drawings, microscopes, and electrical, philosophical and chemical 
apparatus with which he had made some of his most famous ex- 
periments. On the wall of one of the rooms containing the exhib- 
its, hung a life-size and very life-like painted portrait of the dis- 
tinguished doctor. Standing among a group of visitors before the 
silent, yet impressive picture, I heard the man in charge of the 
collection explain that about ten years previous to the celebration 
he as ^sexton had removed the remains of the philosopher from 
the old graveyard to the new cemetery that had not long before 
been laid out. "Although he had been buried sixty years (he died 
in 1804), when I opened the casket," said the sexton, "I found 
him just as perfect and natural in appearance, except the eyes, and 
appear precisely as you see him there on the wall. His son, who 
had been buried a few years longer, was quite as well preserved. 
Their features seemed as perfect as if they had but recently been 
interred." Now, after grandfather, John Gernert, had been buried 
only about twenty years, his remains were not found in anything 
like such a condition. A hole had been noticed down through the 
middle of his grave that appeared or was suspected to be the bur- 
row of some animal. Two of his sons went with shovels and boards 
intending to repair the rough coffin, and put the grave in order. 
The hole they soon discovered was merely caused by a natural sink- 
ing of the earth, resulting from the almost complete decay of both 




MKS. HANNAH |i<>NMtiVi:i:i. I.F.I'.AXhN (orNTY, I'A. 
180G-186J. 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 151 

casket and the body. Nothing was found but several small bits of 
decayed boards and a few almost disintegrated bones. All had in 
this comparatively short time been changed to dust and ashes, and 
almost to invisibility. 

John and Catharine had : 

I. HANNAH3, b. Nov. i, 1806. In 1824, at the age of 18, 
she m. Benjamin Donmoyer, of Maxatawny, Berks County, Pa. 
About 1840 they bought and settled on a farm m L'nion Town- 
ship, Lebanon County, Pa., where both died of typhoid fever, in 
March, 1864: — she on the 3d and he a few days later. They had 
nine children : : 

I. Catharine Donmoyer'*, b. Feb. 16, 1825 ; m. Simon Bortx, 
of Red Hill, Montgomery County, Pa., in 1850, He d. in 
1885. She still resides at Red Hill. They had five chil- 
dren: 

i. Maria Bortz^, b. N5v. 8, 1850; m. Charles Barndt, of 
Ouakertown, Pa. Twelve children : Louisa*', b. CJct. 
23, 1870; George*', b. July 25, 1871 ; Rosa*^, b. Oct. i, 
1873 ; Jennie*^, b. Dec. 2, 1874 — d. Jan. 27, 1891 ; Katie", 
b. Feb. 26, 1876; Maggie*', b. March 30, 1879; Ella*', b. 
Jan. 4, 1881 ; Samuel*', b. Jan. 23, 1883; Lnos^, b. Dec. 
31, 1883; Charles^ b. April 4, 1886; Norman^, b. June 
22, 1887 ; Edith^, b. May 9, 1890. 

a. Hannah Borts^, b. April 16, 1853 ; m. William H. Roten- 
berger, Sept. 13, 1873; r. Trumbauersville, Pa. Twelve 
children: Edwin*', b. April 19, 1874 — married>^ : Laura'', 
b. Dec. 15, 1875; Harvey*', b. April 10, 1880: Sallied 
b. Aug. 20, 1878 ; John and Alvin*', twins, b. Feb. 2y, 
1882 : Emma*5, b. Feb. 14, 1884 : Jacob", b. July 23, 1885 ; 
Lillie^ b. June 11, 1887; Elmer^ b. April 11, 1889; 
Esther^, b. Aug. 30, 1890; Raphael^, b. June 21. 1892. 

Hi. Jlctoria Bortd°, h."^ ; m. Abram Bvcr, of Red Hill, Pa. 
She d. in 1898. One son: Jofn/", b. April 15, 1888. 

iv. Emma Bortz'' b. Jan. 27^; m. Jolm Ifarlzrll. Four chil- 
dren'^ : 

V. George Henry Bortz^, b. June 18, 1866; m. Alice Hart- 
zell, Jan. i, 1887; r. Trumbauersville, Pa. Four chil- 



152 The Gernhardt Family History. 

dren: Victoria A.^ b. Feb. 16, 1888; Horace A.^, b. 
Aug. 17, 1891 ; Ara T.'', and Elsie T.*^, twins, b. Jan. 27, 
1897. 

2. William Donmoyer*, b. Feb. 8, 1827; m. Aiaria Fenster- 
macher, Oct. 25, 1845 ; r. Pine Grove, Pa. He d. Dec. 16, 
1863. Had nine children : 

i. Emma Rebecca D}, b. Jan. 1846; m. first, Henry Spor- 
man, Sept. 16, 1865 ; second, Elias Bixler, Dec. 30, 1897 ; 
r. Pine Grove, Pa. Three children : 

a. Emma Promilla Sporman^, b. Aug. 29, 1866 ; m. Wil- 
son Lewars, of Pine Grove, Pa., Sept. 26, 1885. Chil- 
dren : Warren'^, b. Jan. 17, 1888 ; Arthur", b. May 6, 1890 ; 
Norman^, b. March 3, 1892; HarokF, b. Feb. 8, 1894; 
Sterling"^, b. Oct. 2y, 1895; StanM, b. Feb. 17, 189S ; 
Olive'', b. Sept. 30, 1900. 

h. Mary Elimbefh Sporinaif\ b. April 7, 1869; m. John 
Hughes, of Coatesville, Pa., Oct. 29, 1891. Children: 
Madaline', b. Oct. 25, 1893; Stella^, b. June 11, 1896; 
Steward'^, b. Aug. 19, 1898; Miriam Elizabeth^, b. 1901. 

c. Harry Benjamin Sporman^, b. Sept. 9, 1877. 

a. Mariette D}, b. May 17, 1847; ""^^ George Zerbe, of 
Meckville, Pa., June 12, 1864. Children: 

a. Milton W.% b. Feb. 3, 1866; d.x 

b. Sarah Ida^, h. June 15, 1867; m.x Blickly, Nov. 27, 1900. 

c. Mary Alice^, b. Oct. 20, 1868; d.x 

d. George Henry^, b. March 21, 1870; m.x June 21, 1892. 

e. Thomas Solomon^, b. Sept. 6, 1871 ; d.'^ 

/. Tyrus Franklin''', b. Aug. 8, 1873 ; d.x' 

g. Jennie Rebecca^, b. March 17, 1875 ; m.x Peifter, Dec. 
10, 1892. Children : Heber'^, b. May 6, 1893 ; Peter^, 
b. July 13, 1895; Mary7, b. Dec. i, 1898. 

h. Charles Benjamin'^, b. July 5, 1877. 

i. Emma Alvera^, b. Dec. 26, 1888. 

Hi. Amanda^, b. Feb. 10, 1853; m. John Stine, Oct. 15, 
1870; r. Cressona, Pa. Five children: 

a. Charles Edwin ^, b. May 27, 1872 ; m. Sarah Haines, 
April 21, 1898. 



Tlic Gcnihardt Family History. 153 

b. Mary Arabella'', b. Feb. 24, 1874; m. George L. Wil- 
liams, May 13, 1893. 

c. Thomas Oscar-^, b. Jan. 11, 1876. 

d. Morris^, b. Feb. i, 1882. 

c. Frederick Augusta^', b. March 26, 1886. 

iv. Thomas Simon Doiimoyer^, h. July 22, 1854; m. Kate 
Geyer, Dec. 25, 1879; r. Lebanon, Pa. One child: Lil- 
lie R. Donmoyer^, b. Feb. 3, 1881. 

V. Alice Isadora^, b. April 16, 1856; m. Amos Spancake, 
June 20, 1879 ; r. Pine Grove, Pa. Seven children : Lil- 
lie Mav^ b. Mav 12, 1879; Charles Milton*^, b. Feb. 12. 
• 1882; William Elsen^, b. Dec. 8, 1883; Harry Grover^, 
b. May i, 1885; Ray ElvinS, b. Jan. 5. 1888; Lambert^, 
b. April 5, 1889; Robert Emory*5, b. Nov. 12. 1894. 

vi. Peter Benjamin Donmoyer^, b. Dec. 3, 1857 ; m. Emma 
Spancake, Dec. 7, 1878; r. Pine Grove, Pa. Children: 

a. Frank'', b. May 2, 1879; m. Estella Russell, April 16, 
1900; r. Tremont, Pa. One child: Dorothy"'^. 

b. John^, b. June 21, 1880; m. Eva Christ, June 28, 1901 ; 

r. Pine Grove, Pa. One child : Emma Isabella^'^. 

c. Harry^, b. Aug. 26, 1881 ; d. April 17, 1882. 
(/. Irivin^, b. Feb. 5, 1883. 

e. Frederick^, b. June 19, 1884; d. Nov. 22, 1886. 
/. Carrie^, b. Aug. 23, 1885. 

g. William^, b. Feb. 17. 1892. 

Ji. Benjamin^,h. ]a.n. 11, 1901. 

vit. Lezvis David Doimoyc/", b. June 22, 1859; m. Mary 
Ann Lehman, May 20, 1880; r. Pine Grove, Pa. Five 
children: Hcnrv Ramond'', b. Oct. i, 1881 ; T^linnie 
E.6, b. Sept. 8, 1882 ; Lillie Amanda^, b. Dec. 23, 1884— 
d. Jan. 2, 1893; Clara May^, b. Jan. 18, 1887; Robert 
David", b. Nov. 8, 1889— d. Jan." 14. 1893. 

I'iii. Ilaiiiiah ElizabctJi Donmoycr', b. March 6, i86t : m. 
Andrew Jackson Pluntzinger. Jan. i, 1884; r. Mincrs- 
ville, Pa. One son: Robert I'^ranklin'', 1). June 14, 1885. 

ix. William Franklin Donmoycr\ b. Dec. 29, 1862 ; m. I'-llen 
E. IMinnig, Oct. 6, 1883 ; r. Lebanon, I'a. Four chil- 



ir_^ The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



dren: James Franklin^, b. May i6, 1884; William 
Benjamin^, b. May 6, 1888; Nellie ^lay^, b. May 6, 
1891 ; George Even^ b. April 25, 1893. 

3. Anna Maria^, b. Aug. 22, 1828; m. John Felty, Nov. 8, 
1849. She d. at South Bend, Ind., July 8, 1879. Had : 

i. William Hciirv Fclty^, b. Dec. 23, 1850; d. April 22, 
1856. 

a. Susan Felty^, b. May 5, 1852 ; m. tirst, John Defreese, 
January, 1871 ; second, Leonard Brackett, Feb. 22, 1900; 
r. Oakland, Cal. One child: Molly Alicia Defreese^, 
b. Jan. 27, 1872. 

Hi. Hannah Elemenah Felty^, b. March 30, 1855; m. 
George Baur, Nov. 13, 1870; r. Nappanee, Ind. Four 
children : 

a. Ida Maria Banr^, b. March 8, 1871 ; m. William Canode, 
Nov. 29, 1894; r. Goshen, Ind. Two children"^, both died 
in infancy. 

h. Emma Baur^, b. 1873 ; d. when two years and six months 
old. 

c. Dora Bauer^, h. Nov. 21, 1875 ; m. Charles Burbach, July 

12, 1893. One daughter: Katherine Marie", b. Dec. 14, 
1895. 

d. Mabel Estclla^, b. August, 1880. 

iv. Emma Elizabeth Felty^ h. May 22, 1857; m. Charles 
Edgar Kerr, March 29, 1877 ; r. Saginaw, Mich. ; n. c. 

V. Katharine Liicinda Fclty^ h. Feb. 22, 1859; m. Frank 
Coppes, Sept. 26, 1878; r. Nappanee, Ind. Five chil- 
dren : 

a. Arthur Coppes^, b. Sept. 16, 1879; d. Sept. 17, 1S79. 

b. Bessie Gertrude Coppes^, b. Jan. 14, 1881. 

c. Lettie Geneva Coppes^, b. Jan. 18, 1883 ; d. Jan. 27, 1884. 

d. Harold Franklin Coppes'^, b. Nov. 26, 1885. 

e. Claude H. Copped, b. Sept. 27, 1889. 

vi. John Henry Felty^, b. Feb. 10, 1861 ; m. Hattie Van 
Feltie, Oct. 15, 1889; n. c. 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 155 

vii. George Henry ll\ Feliy-\ h. Jan. 15, 1865 ; m. Neva Be- 
vier, Jan. 8, 1898 ; r. Ganett, Ind ; n. c. 

via. Amelia Agnes Jane Felty-', b. Dec. 3, 1868; m. Isaac 
Jacobs, Nov. 21, 1889; r. Goshen, Ind. One daughter: 
Gretchen Lucille*^, b. Oct. 20, 1894. 

ix. Charles M. Felty'', h. June 9, 1870; d. at South Bend, 
Ind., Aug. 3, 1890. 

4. Lewis Donmuyek', b. 1830; m. Mary Hess, of East 
Hanover, Pa., April, 1859. 

In September, 1862, he enhsted in the cause of the Union and 
joined Co. E, of the Seventeenth Pa. Cavalry. Early in the spring 
of 1863 his father, mother, wife and infant son Frank were all 
down with typhoid fever. He asked several times for a furlough 
that he might go home to see the afflicted ones so near and dear to 
him, but was refused, as thd army was just then getting ready to 
move, and orders from headquarters were necessarily very strict 
that no leave of absence should be given. Another letter from 
home informed him of the hopeless condition of his wife, that she 
was constantly calling for him, a summons to which he felt that he 
must respond, and that his aged parents were in the same critical 
state. He showed the letter to his colonel, who, moved by sym- 
pathy for the distressed soldier, immediately wrote and stated the 
case to the Department at Washington. The matter was referred 
to President Lincoln, and that great-hearted man forthwith com- 
manded, "Give that man a furlough." But when the anxious sol- 
dier reached home, in February, 1863, his wife and child were both 
dead, and the next day he had the sorrow to see them laid away in 
one grave. A few days later both his parents died, and lu- also 
saw them consigned to their mother earth. He then returned to 
his post of duty in the army, a sad son, an afflicted husband and 
father, and destined never again to see his home and surviving 
children. 

Lewis was in a number of the sanguinary engagements in 
which the Seventeenth Pa. Cavalry participated, made a number 
01 hairbreadth escapes, having several horses killed under him 
while in action. ( )n the 3Tst day of May. iSr^, he tuok part in the 



156 The Gernhardt Family Historv. 

bloody struggle at Cold Harbor, and this was his last battle. Here 
his regiment moved dismounted, and in its first advance was driven 
back with heavy loss, but on charging again routed the enemy and 
captured his works. Grant had resolved to seize Cold Harbor, a 
very important point to give him control of the Chickahominy and 
the roads to Richmond, and after a sharp struggle carried the po- 
sition, though in gaining it he lost two thousand men, and in the 
still greater conflict that followed the next day (June ist) he failed 
to get over the Chickahominy. Lewis was among the unfortunate 
in the struggle for the position, as he was severely wounded by a 
shot through the arm and elbow. The bones were badly shattered, 
gangrene set in, and on the 29th day of June he was mustered out 
by that Supreme Commander whom no earthly sovereignty or 
power can hinder. 

In the summer of 1885 it was my privilege to visit the National 
Military Cemetery, at Arlington, opposite Washington City, D. C, 
and there I found the grass-grown grave of our sadly bereaved 
and patriotic kinsman, among the graves of 16,263 brave comrades 
who had died on battle fields and in hospitals, and are now laid in 
long rows, sleeping that last long sleep from which no one will ever 
be awakened by war's stern alarms, or the sharp call "to arms." 
The first interments of Union soldiers in that historic ground (once 
owned by the wife of General George Washington, and when the 
war of the rebellion broke out was the inheritance of the wife of 
General Robert E. Lee, and from which the Lees reluctantly re- 
moved to Richmond when the General, after a painful Jieart-strug- 
gle, had finally decided that he must cast his lot with his native 
state as a member of the Southern Confederacy), were made in 
May, 1864, and therefore only a short time before Lewis Doii- 
moyer fell from the ranks to await the final roll call, at the sound 
of the last trump, which his Lutheran faith had assured him would 
reunite him with the departed loved ones. Peaceful and beautiful 
is the vigilantly guarded place where he rests. On the borders of 
the extensive grave plots are here and there frames, on each of 
which is conspicuously inscribed some sentiment in verse that ap- 



Tlic Gcrnliardt Family History. 157 

peals to the heart of the thous^htfiil and sympathetic visitor, as the 
following, for example : 

"No rumor of the foe's advance 

Now sweeps upon the wind, 
No troubled thoughts at midnight haunts 

Of loved ones left behind." 

Lewis, of whom further mention will be made when recording 
the longer military service of his younger brother, Rudolph, was 
tiie parent of four children : 

i. Lewis Irzvin Donnioyer^, b. December, 1859; ^^- '^^^ ^'^" 
fancy. 

a. WiUiaiii B. DP, b. Dec. 25, i860; m. Kate Botz, Sept. 
26, 1880; r. Allentown, Pa. Nine children: Jennie^, b. 
Aug. 14, 1881 ; Golden*^, b. Oct. 17, 1884; Carrie I.^ b. 
July 21, 1887 — m. Harry A. Diefenderfer, Nov. 28, 
1903 ; ]\Iassie''. b. Aug. 12, 1889; Abner^, b. Mav, 1891 ; 
Rudy«, b. Feb. i, 1894 ; Kate B.e, b. March 28, 1896— d. 
Oct. 16, 1900; Francis*^, b. June 26, 1898; John'', b. Dec. 
26, 1900. 

Hi. Ella M. D.^ h. Dec. 8, 1861 ; m. first, George A. Hoff- 
man, Feb. 21, 1879; second, Sherman Lautzenheiser, 
Aug. 10, 1893; r. Cleveland, Ohio. One son: Earl T. 
Hoffman^, b. Sept. 6, 1881. 

iv. Franklin IV. D.°^ ; d. in infancy, and was buried with 
his mother, in 1863. 

5. Benjamin Franklin Donmoyer'*, b. Nov. 28, 1833; m. 
Adelade Shartle, of Pine Grove, Pa., Nov. 2S, 1852 ; she d. 
Dec. 10, 1895; ^- Flora, Illinois; o. carpenter. They had 
nine children : 

i. JVilliain Donnio\cr^, b. March 6, 18^3; d. ]\Iarch 13, 
1857. 

ii. Franklini James D.^, b. April 17, 1855 ; m. Emma Anne 
Stanford, Nov. 12. 1882 ; o. section foreman on B. & O. 
S. W. R. R. ; r. Flora. Illinois. Two children: Mamie 
ViolaS, b. Sept. 13, 1886; Ruba Opal^, b. IMay 14, 1895. 

Hi. EHzahetJi Jane /).■'*, b. April 3, 1857 ; m. John Gobin. 

iv. Matilda D.^, 1). July 20, 183S: m. George W. Bowers, 
Nov. 28, 1880; r. Annville, Pa. Three children: Reu- 



158 The Gernhardt Family History. 



ben Franklin^, b. March 6, 1883; Adaline SusaiA b. 
Dec. 9, 1886; Walter George^ b. Feb. 3, 1890. 

V. Catharine D.^, b. Aug. 24, 1861 ; m. first, Ezra Platt^; 
second, James C. Sullivan, Dec. 15, 1887. Six children: 
Charles William S.\ b. May 5, 1889; Maude S.^, b. 
Oct. 8, 1890; Ruth Adelade S.^, b. Aug. 15, 1892; Asa 
B. and Bertha Edith^, twins, b. April 6, 1897. 

vi. Ellen D.^, b. Sept. 3, 1863; m. Hezekiah Denning, Dec. 
21, 1882. Seven children: Dora May^, b. Aug. 24, 
1883; Stella EllenS, b. March 9, 1888; George Frank- 
line, b_ Aug. II, 1891 ; S. William^, b. Oct. 7, 1893; 
Paul Francis'', b. Aug. 25, 1896; Walter Joseph^ b. Oct. 
31, 1898; Ralph Lester^, b. Jan. 28, 1900. 

vii. Anna Maria D}, b. Nov. 3, 1865; m. John Monroe" ; 
she d. July 3, 1891. One son: Irwin William Monroe^, 
b. March 15, 1884. 

z'iii. Grant Donmoyer^, b. Sept. 25, 1868; m. Ada Clark, 
Jan. 2^, 1899. 

ix. Susan Efnma D.^, b. Nov. 10, 1872 : m. Sherman Hall. 
She d. Oct. 2y, 1901. One son: Reuben Franklin 
Halie, b. March 11, 1896. 

6. Isaac Donmoyer^, b. in 1841 ; d. in 1842 or '43. 

7. Susanna Donmoyer^, b. Oct. 11, 1844; m. Alfred F. Haas, 
of Montour County, Pa., Dec. 23, 1867; r. Tiffin, O. [Al- 
fred served under the Old Flag from 1861 to 1865, and 
was in some of the hardest battles of the war. The Boys 
in Gray were active enough to capture him at Chancellors- 
ville. May 3, 1863, and compelled him to serve a term in 
Libby Prison.] One son : Harvey A. Haas^, b. April 17, 
1883. Harvey possesses musical talent. Since fifteen years 
old has been the leader of a number of musical organiza- 
tions. Was educated at Heidelberg College, Tiffin, O. 

8. Rudolph Wellington Donmoyer^, b. Jan. 25, 1847; ii^- 

Ella Baker, of South Bend, Ind., April 2, 1871. One son: 
Lewis William D.^, b. July 31, 1873 ; d. Jan. 24, 1874. 

Rudy, as his nearest friends all called him, enlisted in Co. E 
of the Seventeenth Pa. Cavalry soon after the enrollment of his 
unfortunate brother Lewis. He was a stout and venturesome boy, 




KUiHU.rii \v. Il(lX^r()VKI;l, .-(irrii hkm), ini>. 



^ 



The Gcniluvdt Faniily History. 159 

though at that time only fifteen years and six months old. The 
first notable experience he had happened just when his regiment 
received orders to leave Harrisburg for the seat of war, and that 
was to become infected with the loathsome disease of smallpox. It 
was not the way in which he expected to serve his country, but he 
could not help it, and it is only mentioned to illustrate one of the 
disagreeable exigencies of war. December 9th was a cold, un- 
pleasant day. It snowed fast all that afternoon and night, and the 
next morning the drift against the tents was so high that, as one 
of the company remarked to me, "we could hardly crawl out,", 
though, of course, a snowbank is not a very formidable obstacle to 
a soldier. After packing up the camp accompaniments the men 
mounted their horses and at nine o'clock rode to the railroad, 
where they were compelled to wait until four before the trains 
came to transport them to the City of Washington. 

Rudy had for several days been feeling miserable. It was 
night when the men reached Washington, ndien they again mount- 
ed their horses, and rode out several miles to an open field to en- 
camp on the soft side of four inches of snow. As the tents had 
not yet arrived, the sick boy lay that night on an open bale of hay 
under a blanket. In the morning a hospital tent was put up and 
he was then taken to better quarters on a stretcher, not improved 
by the exposure and exertion since leaving Harrisburg. A stove 
placed in the tent made him more comfortable. The next night 
the frozen earth on the near side of the stretcher thawed, and 
suddenly the litter executed a flank movement, and the prostrate 
incumbent involuntarily debouched into the mud. As no support to 
this forlorn detachment was present, it scrambled out of the mud 
as best it could, and as soon as able formed a new aligimient. As 
the bov had eaten nothing for several days, his anxious l)rother 
thought that a piece of chicken would tempt him, so the next 
morning a raid was made on the market for a chicken. It was 
still hoped that nothing serious ailed him, and that he would in a 
few days come out all right. Before the detail with tlie chicken 
came, however, the Doctor came, and closely scrutinizing the 
young soldier, exclaimed, "My dear boy, you have the smallpox." 



i6o The Gernhardt Family History. 



Almost instantly a colored man came with an ambulance and hur- 
ried away with him to a better furnished hospital, a large stone 
house in Georgetown, D. C, where hundreds of others, in the 
house and in tents on the environing ground, were down with the 
same repulsive disease. Lewis and his mess that day may have 
had a chicken for their dinner, but not their laid up comrade. 

Rudy was carried up the stairs of the big stone house on a 
stretcher and left for some time in the hall, where he could med- 
itate on the novelty of the situation, if he felt inclined to reflect 
upon it, until the corpse of a man who had just died of smallpox 
could be carried out from the bed he was to occupy. The tick of the 
bed to which he was in turn assigned was filled with corn husks, 
"with the nubbins left on." The Doctor mildly admonished him not 
to turn over any more than he could help, but to keep as quiet as 
possible, like a good soldier. The advice was doubtless well 
meant. Where the nubbins came into contact with his body a sore 
formed, until he had thirty-five of the bothersome things. These 
sores became abscesses, filled with corruption, and the Doctor, as 
kindly as he could under the circumstances, lanced them. Then 
in some of them gangrene set in, and for a time every morning 
the Doctor entertained his sore-suffering patient by burning out 
the holes with caustic. The Doctor did not mind it much, but 
Rudy remembers that he himself minded it somewhat. Some of 
the holes ran down to the bone. Finally, at the end of four 
months, being thought unfit for cavalry service, he was kindl\- 
offered an honorable discharge, which he would not accept, as he 
was still mending, and hoped to be in good shape soon to be 
with his brother Lewis, at the front, where he understood the 
boys were having lively times. The Doctor thought he could not 
for some time ride a horse on account of his sores. However, he 
gladly accepted a furlough for thirty days to visit the old folks 
and sisters at home, and at the end of the leave of absence he be- 
lieved he could ride with the boys. When the time expired, in- 
stead of reporting at the hospital, from which he was glad to es- 
cape, he presented himself at the dismounted camp at Alexandria, 
Va., where he was given a horse and sent on to his regiment. 



Tlic Gci'jiliardt Faiiiily History. i6i 

When he arrived at the front, just before the great battle of Chan- 
cellorsville, his captain notified the hospital that the young caval- 
ryman was again in the ranks. And the boy remained to partici- 
pate in forty-five battles and skirmishes. 

In the first battle, fought on the 3d day of Alay, 1863, Rudy 
and Lewis were well initiated into the malignity of war, though 
they were little more than deeply interested spectators. The 
Seventeenth was one of the only three cavalry regiments with 
Hooker in the battle, the rest of the mounted troops having all 
been sent with Averill and Stoneman in a raid to cut Lee's com- 
munications. On the evening of the 2d day of May the Eleventh 
Corps was driven back in alarming disorder by the rebels under 
Jackson, and the whole Union army was threatened with a fear- 
ful disaster. At a critical moment General Pleasanton approach- 
ed the breast-works with the Eighth and Seventeenth Pennsylva- 
nia Cavalry, just as Jackson's 20.000 victorious troops were com- 
ing on a rush after the broken and retreating Eleventh Corps. 
Comprehending at a glance what was transpiring, he ordered 
Major Keenan to charge with the Eighth, then hardly a half regi- 
ment strong, with all the fury and vigor possible on the head 
of Jackson's approaching army, so as to give him (Pleasanton) 
time to get his battery of horse artillery into position. It was a 
fearful venture, but a few moments of time thus gained was of 
inestimable importance. The Eighth performed the direful task 
in the most gallant manner, making a charge that will be known 
in history as one of the most daring assaults that a small body 
ever attempted against such immense odds. The rebels supposed, 
of course, that they were being attacked by a heavy force, and 
paused in their mad rush to receive the anticipated shock. The 
object was thus attained. Twenty-two guns were instantly un- 
hmbered, loaded, double-shotted, and placed into position, and as 
the enemy, checked but for a few minutes, came pouring in a great 
mass over the parapet that the Eleventh Corps had just forsaken, 
the order was given to fire. The well-aimed, double-shotted guns 
mowed the rebels down at a fearful rate, and again checked the 
furious onset, though a fierce musketry and arlillcrv duel follow- 



i62 The Gernhardt Family History. 

ed that lasted almost an hour. The Seventeenth Cavalry, com- 
posed of new and raw men, sat on their horses in the rear of the 
battery, in single line, with drawn sabres, and with orders to 
charge if the enemy attempted to take the guns. It is believed 
that they were taken for the front line of a much larger force, as 
the ground back of them sloped downward and was not in the 
enemy's view. The position was a perilous one for the Seven- 
teenth, but it performed for the army a service of immense im- 
portance. It is difficult to imagine t'he feelings of Rudy and ■ 
Lewis when close witnesses of such an awful scene, and standing 
with sabres drawn and ready, expecting every moment tO' be 
themselves engaged hand to hand in an unsparing struggle. In 
a general order after the battle General Pleasanton said : "The 
coolness displayed by the Seventeenth in supporting the batteries 
has excited the highest admiration." 

After the baptism of fire at Chancellorsville Rudy and Lewis 
had many lessons in the rigorous school of war, to enter into the 
details of which would require a great deal of space. They were 
together in the terriblei first-day battle on the field of Gettysburg, 
July I, 1863, when the Union troops were vastly outnumbered, 
and when the percentage of casualties was far greater than that 
of the main army in the second and third days' awful fighting, but 
both boys came out unharmed. One of the most trying moments 
of that fateful day was when, throiigh the dust and smoke, the 
Seventeenth was mistaken for a body of the enemy by Howard's 
artillery, posted on Cemetery Hill, and became the target for a 
fire that was dreaded more than the fire from the hostile side. 
While the shells were bursting over and around them the order 
was given to change position, and, said Rudy, "we never obeyed a 
command with greater alacrity." One of Rudy's recollections of 
this fight may here be mentioned to show that shells sometimes 
play strange freaks, as well as floods, tornadoes and lightning. 
When the Seventeenth crossed Seminary Ridge on the morning of 
July 1st and met Hill's infantry, a shell entered the body of his 
captain's horse, bent the scabbard oi his sabre, removed a patch 
from the seat of his pants, and gave him a black spot for a re- 



The Gcni/iardt Family Ilislory. 163 

minder of the day. The horse phinged with him over a stone 
fence and fell dead, but the i)lucky captain sustained no further 
injury and continued in command of his company. On the sec- 
ond and third memorable days Co. E was a part of the force de- 
tailed to protect the wagon trains at Westminster, and the broth- 
ers were, therefore, not in the final battles at Gettysburg. 

Rudy was wounded by a shot through his right foot on the 
yxh day of May, 1864, at Todd Tavern, where his brigade relieved 
Gregg's Division, and drove the enemy, with heavy loss, and that 
day he saw his dear brother Lewis for the last time. "As I was 
being carried to the rear," said Rudy, 'T shall always remember 
the anxious look Lewis gave me. He said something to me, but 
the noise and clash of battle was so great that I could not catch 
a word of what he said." Lewis was himself fatally wounded in 
the fight at Cold Harbor, on the last day of the same month, as 
already stated, and was brought to the same hospital where Rudy 
lay, but the unfortunate brothers never dreamed of their being 
again so near each other, and under such ill-fated circumstances. 
But such is the fate of war. How true it is that, "What Fate im- 
poses, men must needs abide." Lewis died, and was carried to his 
"long home," at Arlington, before Rudy or any of his kindred 
had learned of his sad end. Rudy s foot healed rapidly, and by 
midsummer he was again at t'he front. 

When armies move and skirmish to secure strategic positions, 
and fight battles, every private soldier has a share and interest in 
the general course of events, and the record of the service of every 
private is therefore a bit of an armx's history. His part has also 
a certain entirely individual interest, especially to his immediate 
friends and relations. The private is in truth the real fighter, the 
man who is obliged to do the eft'ective and most disagreeable 
work, and on whose strength and valor the success of the army 
so much depends. Generals, colonels, majors, and captains are 
the pilots and helmsmen, the eyes and ears of the army, and as a 
rule do not often with their own hands harm an\- ouc. though they 
are frequently the shining marks for the niissik's of the enemy. 
The following e])isode in the ann\- life of l\ud\ \wll illustrates 



164 The Gernhardt Family History. 

the duty, value, and perils of the common soldier. In the latter 
part of September, 1864, Rudy was one of a detail of twenty men 
from Co. E that was sent from Winchester to Alartinsburg with 
a dispatch to General Sheridan. On the return trip, when hardly 
more than one mile from the Union line, two men on horseback 
appeared on the road who were at once concluded to be "busli- 
wackers." Instantly the detail charged pellmell and pursued the 
suspects as they fled from the main road into a tract of timber. 
Unsuspectingly the detachment was led into a trap of one hun- 
dred or more of Mosby's famous guerrillas, who suddenly opened 
a destructive fire on them, instantly killing three and wounding 
four, one-third of their number, and the next instant made pris- 
oners of twelve, only one being so fortunate as to escape. This, 
considering the brief moment the affair lasted, and the actual re- 
sult, was "about the hottest place," Rudy says, "that he was 
ever in." 

After hastily disarming their captives, relieving them of the 
best of their clothing, cutting the buttons from the hard-worn 
garments that they did not covet, and appropriating all the foot- 
wear that passed their hurried inspection, the rebels started them, 
under a strong guard, in the direction of the Shenandoah River. 
Meanwhile the lucky soldier who escaped had lost no time in get- 
ting back to Winchester and reporting that his comrades were 
either captured or killed. So near the lines did this affair occur 
that the bugle-call to boots and saddles for the purpose of pursuit 
and rescue was distinctly heard by the guard and their prisoners. 
The alarmed guard hurried their captives into a piece of timber 
some distance from the scene of the capture, from which the boys 
could see their regiment galloping past in the pursuit, and so 
near were they that they would have shouted to let them know 
where they were but for the disagreeable fact that their convoy 
held their revolvers right in their faces and threatened to blow 
out their brains the instant they made their presence known. 
This happened about three o'clock in the afternoon. The regi- 
ment gave up the pursuit, and on returning sought the scene of 
the disaster to carry off the dead and wounded. Three of the lat- 




MII.TOX T. DOXMOYEKS 
Kl'TZTOWN, PA. 



The Gernhardt Fauiily Hislory. 165 

ter had been left by the guard at a farm house, and they were not 
found — but the trio ktckily got back into the lines three weeks 
later through the friendly aid of the farmer, who proved to be 
a good Union man. 

\\'hen near the Shenandoah River a company of horsemen 
were seen coming across a field. The major in charge of the rebel 
guard, thinking it was another detachment of ■Nlosby's force, that 
had been detailed to capture a supply train that was going from 
Winchester to Martinsburg, halted his men to have a talk with 
the ofticer in charge. When, getting into closer range, the major 
called out, "Who are you?" The response was, "Who are yoii^" 
The major replied, "we belong to Col. Mosby's command." "So 
do we." said the officer with the most perfect sang froid, allaying 
the major's suspicion, and then the pair agreed to meet each other 
half way and have a chat. When at close range the officer quickly 
raised his revolver and shot the major dead, and instantly his men 
came on in a furious charge, beginning to discharge their carbines. 
The road to the river now led into a deep cut, and down between 
the sloping banks the retreating rebels rushed, nearly every one 
with the horse of a prisoner tied on the right-hand side of his 
horse. The captives, seeing their opportunity in the rush, sud- 
denly slid off their horses. Several shots were fired at them, but 
the stampeded rebs were in too great a hurry to take proper aim, 
and too eager to get away from their lively pursuers to bother with 
prisoners. Their impetuous adversaries — a company of indepen- 
dent scouts of West Virginians who had just been on the look-out 
for JNIosby's men — were getting too uncomfortably near them. 
The W. V.'s told the freed captives to take care of themselves, 
as they desired to devote their attention entirely to their now- 
fleeing captors. Rudy and his comrades made as short a cut as 
possible for Winchester, and sometime after midnight were ad- 
mitted within the picket line, where they were detained until 
morning, when they were sent under guard to headquarters, and 
thence to their command. Tn camj:) they were soon surrounded 
bv their comrades, eager to shake hands with and congratulate 
them, and to hear what kind of a time the\- had. 



1 66 The Gernhardt Family History. 



After the war Rudy also served three years in the Regular 
Army as a member of Co. I, 19th Infantry, and assisted in taking 
care of the famous Klu Klux in Missouri and Arkansas, but lim- 
ited space will not permit a fuller account of his militarv' service. 
The army life of most men who served their country from three 
to six years during that eventful era would furnish material 
enough for a separate volume. During the last twenty-five years 
Rudy has been general manager of the South Bend Toy Manu- 
facturing Company, a concern now having $100,000 capital, and 
employing from 300 to 350 men. He is one of the original propri- 
etors. The enterprise launched upon the great commercial tide 
with the imposing sum of several hundred dollars, but is now re- 
garded as one of the largest institutions of the kind in the coun- 
try. Among the articles manufactured are croquet sets, ball 
bats, game boards, children's wagons, carts, wheelbarrows, toy 
tables, chairs and carriages, in illustrating and advertising which 
the firm has from time to time issued many beautiful catalogues. 

9. Milton Taylor Donmoyer^, b. Aug. 8, 1848; m. Hannah 
E Springer, January, 1869; r. Kutztown, Pa. 

Served three years as a member of the Prison Board of Berks 
County, and was afterwards appointed postmaster of Kutztown 
under President Harrison, serving five years. Was a harness- 
maker by occupation, and still kept up the business while post- 
master, but also spent about ten years of his life as a dealer in 
cattle. His reminiscences as a drover are very interesting, but to 
appreciate and enjoy them fully he must himself be heard relate 
them. Although the youngest of the family, he wanted to go and 
help his brothers Frank, Lewis and Rudy crush the rebellion, and 
made a break for the front, but his guardian started after him 
and brought him back, insisting that three brothers in the army at 
one time was enough for one family. Industrious and frugal, he 
has accumulated something to make the struggle of life easier in 
old age. His children and grandchildren: 

i. Charles Benjamin D.^, b. Sept. 29, 1870; d. Julv 14, 
1871. 




MRS. CATIIAKINK II INIKKI.K.rii;!; -, K ITZToWN, I'A. 
180S-18!>1. 



The Gcrnliardt Faiiiily History. 167 

//. Jennie Elizabeth D.^, b. March 28, 1873; m. Charles E. 
Messersmith, Dec. 29, 1892 ; r. Kutztown, Pa. One son : 
John Milton6, b. Feb. 8, 1894. 

///'. William Augustus D.^, b. April 8, 1875 ; m. Lillie Die- 
trich, Jan. 19, 1895; r. Kntztown, Pa. Children: Hel- 
en"^, b, June 7, 1895; Florence^, b. Sept. 18, 1896; 
Charles Milton^, b. May 30, 1898; Mary^ b. June 27, 
1899; Mabel and Laura^, twins, b. Aug. 8, 1900; Laura 
d. Jan. 6, 1901. 

IL CATHARINE GERNERPS, b. Feb. 8, 1808; m. Daniel 
Hinterleiter, of Maxatawny, Berks County, Pa., Feb. 27. 1827. 
She died Nov. 12, 1881. Daniel d. Aug. 16. 1889. P>oth were 
buried in the cemetery at Kutztown. ^^'hen a boy back in the for- 
ties and early fifties it was my happy privilege to visit with this 
hospitable aunt and uncle, and their large family of boys and 
girls, in their cheerful home on their beautiful farm of 150 acres, 
in the fertile limestone district three miles east of Kutztown. The 
farm was first owned by uncle's grandfather, INIathias Hinter- 
leiter, who bought it of Nicholas Muffly, in 1767. It descended 
to his father, Jacob, then to Uncle Daniel, and still continues in 
the family name. Uncle was a thrifty farmer, kept everything 
about his premises clean and in good order, thought brier and 
brush-grown fence rows an abomination, and his barn, wagons, 
pigs, horses and cattle were all evidences of scrupulous care, tire- 
less industry and good living. The provident habits, patience 
and perseverance for which the Pennsylvania Germans have al- 
ways been noted were dominant traits of this once happy family, 
the majority of whom have already passed over the mystic river 
to the land of rest and silence — and 1 now look back with a mel- 
ancholy pleasure to the days I spent with them so delightfull\- in 
their peaceful and cheerful home. Catharine and Daniel had: 

I. Jacou HiNTERLEiiiiK', 1). July 4, 1827; m. Sarah Anna 
Young, of Richmond, Berks County Pa., May 3, 1853 ; r. 
Kutztown. i'a. He d. Feb. 12, 1901, and she d. the 20l1i 
day of the same month. They had been hapi)il\- united in 
life almost half a century, and were separated only eight 
(k'ns In' death. Thev had three children : 



i68 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



i. Kate A. H.^ b. Aug. 22, 1853; m. George F. Rahn, 
Sept. 13, 1884. She d. Jan. 13, 1887. 

a. Amelia Sarah H.^, b. Jan. 27, 1859; d. unm. July 31, 
1901. 

Hi. Sahra Ann H.^, b. Aug. 17, 1866 ; m. Calvin G. Stamm, 
of Womelsdorf, Pa., Dec. 26, 1896; r. Kutztown, Pa.; 
n. c. 

2. Joshua Hinterleiter^, b. March i, 1829; m. Elwina 
Smith, of Long Swamp, May 29, 1853. She d. Sept. 23, 
1891, in Lebanon County. He now has his home with his 
daughter Susanna and her husband. Dr. Gerberich, in Leb- 
anon. Had eight children : 

i. Martha Jane Katharine H}, b. July 27, 1853 ; m. Rev. 
Irwin William Bieber, of Kutztown, July 27, 1873 ; r. 
Bethlehem, Pa. Thirteen children : Florence Ada^, b. 
Oct. 5, 1874; Warren Joshua, b. Dec. 28, 1875; Lottie 
Irene, b. July 10, 1877; Gertrude Catharine, b. Jan. 26, 
1879 — deceased; Agnes Heidenreich, b. July 29, 1880; 
Arthur Irwin, b. Feb. ii, 1882 — deceased; Bertha Su- 
san, b. March 24, 1884; Mabel May, b. Jan. 20, 1886 
— deceased; Raymond Luther, b. Oct. 24, 1888; J. 
Blanche Evelyn, b. Nov. 30, 1890; Miriam Esther, b. 
Sept. 27, 1892; Truman Irwin, b. Sept. 11, 1894; Ruth 
Mildred, b. Oct. 31, 1896. 

I 

ii. Theodore Daniel H.^, b. April 2y, 1855 ; d. Aug. 24, 
1858. 

Hi. Susanna Louise H.^, b. Dec. 10, 1856; m. Dr. Daniel 
Philip Gerberich, of Lebanon, Pa., April 6, 1881. One 
son : Guy Ascher^, b. May 25, 1883. 

iv. Williani Henry H.^, b. Aug. 19, 1859 ; m. Gertrude 
Esser Terry, of Mauch Chunk, Pa., Oct. 31, 1894; r. 
Carlisle. Pa. ; o. merchant. One son : Harold Esser", 
b. Oct. 3, 1896. 

V. Emma Eliza H.^, b. April 26, 1861 ; d. July 22, 1873. 

vi. Charles Elsivorth H.^, b. July 25, 1863; d. Sept. 3, 
1865. 

"vii. Oscar Daniel H.^, b. Aug. 4, 1865; m. Amentha Ar- 
nold, February, 1891. He d. Aug. 23, 1891. 



TJic Gcniliardt family History. 169 

via. Minnie H.^, b. Sept. 15, 1872; ni. William Benjamin 
Sands, of Baltimore, IMd., Sept. 10, 1901. She d. Feb. 
22, 1903, and was buried at Lebanon, Pa., on the 25th. 

Minnie was a very sweet, bright and pious girl, beautiful in 
mind and heart as well as in person. I saw her often enough to 
become much impressed with her intense interest in and her learn- 
ing" of the Scriptures. She was greatly taken with Millenarian 
views, and believed that Christ would return to the world in great 
power and glory, just as truly and literally as he left it. She look- 
ed for a literal resurrection of the dead, and believed that the 
righteous alone would inhabit the earth when Christ has returned 
and destroyed all the powers of wickedness and converted the 
planet into a Paradise. But Minnie's meek, pure and dutiful life 
endeared her to all her friends much more than her doctrines. 
She had enjoyed good health, and was rejoicing in the prospect 
of motherhood, when she was suddenly cut down by the Great 
Reaper, who is no respecter of persons. 

3. Maria E. Hinterleiter*, b. Dec. 24, 1833; m. Jacob W. 
Fisher, of Kutztown, Pa., Sept. 11, 1855. She d. June 2, 
1899. Had three children : 

i. Louisa F.^, b. Jan. 11, 1858; m. Benjamin Deibert. of 
Kutztown, Pa., Dec. 25, 1877. Children : Eva Viola 
D.6, b. March 21, 1880; George Thomas D.^, b. Oct. 8, 
1892. 

ii. George Hozvard F.^, b. Oct. 2, 1863 ; m. Elizal^eth S. 
Fenstermacher, of Lebanon, Pa., June 29, 1889. He 
d. May 2, 1891. One child: Elmina Louisa^, b. March 
22, 1890. 

Hi. John Daniel Fisher^, h. Oct. 30, 1867; m. Mary J. 
Brown, Aug. 10, 1889; r. Robesonia, Pa.; o. railroad 
ticket agent. Children : Charles Jacob F.^, b. Jan. 
25, 1890; Milo Edgar F.^, b. Oct. 3, 1892; Raymond 
John F.^ b. Aug. 15, 1894. 

4. Eliza Hinterleiter'*, b. Feb. 6, 1835 '' ""i- F)aniel S. 

Seigfried, of Maxatawny. Pa.. Sept. 11, 1853. She d. June 
27, 1864. Had four children: 

i. Abraliain^, b. Feb. 11, 1857: d. Feb. 2, 1876. 



170 Tlic Gcnihardt Family History. 

a. Catharine Elicabcth^, b. May 22, 1858; m. John Ober- 
holtzer, Oct. 9, 1884; r. Lebanon, Pa. One child: May 
Catharine'^, b. April 18, 1895. 

Hi. Eluiira^, b. Dec. 25, i860; d. when nine months old. 

iv. Elmer L.^, b. Aug. 19, 1862; d. May 18, 1865. 

5. FiANA E. HiNTERLEiTER^, b. March 4, 1837; "-i- Lewis 

Fisher. Jan. 4, 1857. She d. Aug. 30. 1891. He d. Oct. 
16, 1901. He was the station agent of the Reading R. R. 
at Kutztown, Pa., for 26 years, and was one of the most re- 
spected citizens of the town. They had nine children : 

i. Ehvood D. F.°, b. Sept. 10, 1857; m. Ella L. Wenner, 
Sept. 3, 1877. Succeeded his father as agent of the 
Reading R. R. Has been a school director for a num- 
ber of years, and takes an active interest in the affairs 
of the town. Is also^ a Notary Public. Two children : 

a. Warren R. F.*^, b. April 5, 1878; m. Ida J. Reinhard. 
Has children : Eva May"^, b. Aug. 10, 1897 ; Edwin^, b. 
July 5, 1 90 1. 

b. Lillie E. F.'^, b. June 27, 1879; d. Nov. 27, 1897. 

a. Jacob G. F.°, b. March 27, i860; d. Sept. 12, i860. 

Hi. Ellen C. F.^, b. April 23, 1861 ; m. William Hicks Rex, 
Jr., June I, 1889; r. Philadelphia, Pa 

iv. Ei::zie C. F.^, b. Aug. 23, 1863. 

V. William T. F.^ h. Nov. 11, 1866; r. St. Louis, Mo. 

z'i. Charles E. F.^, b. July 11, 1869; d. March 17, 1896. 

vii. Lillie M. F.^, b. Aug. 31, 1872; d. May 14, 1876. 

viii. Annie A. F.^, b. Feb. 22, 1875. 

ix. Harry F.^, h. July 29, 1877; m. Miss Alice Lawrence, 
of Topeka, Kansas, Aug. 2, 1900 ; r. St. Paul, Minn. 
Is traveling freight agent for the Mo. Pac. R. R. Co., 
in charge of the N. W. territory. 

6. John G. Hinterleiter^, b. May 18, 1839; m.x, Nov. 
22, 1862 ; n. c. ; r. Kutztown, Pa. ; o. butcher. 

7. Sarah A. Hinterleiter*, b. Sept. 25, 1841 ; m. first. 
Esquire Ephraim B. Shuey, of Lebanon County, Pa., Oct. 

18, 1866; Shuey d. Dec. 19, 1889; m. second, William H. 
Hess, Oct. 21, 1898; r. Jonestown, Pa.; n. c. 



/ 




KI.Wooli li. I-ISIIEK"', WAKKKX K. K 
KVA MA^' AND KDWIN Kl-lli;i; 
KIIZIOW N, I 'A. 



UK 



The GernJiardt Painily History. 171 



8. William G. Hinterleiter^ b. April u, 1S44; m. Kate S. 
Bear, of Oley, Pa., Dec. 10, 1874. Residence in Kutztown, 
Pa., where he keeps a well stocked dry goods store. Also 
has a D. G. store at Hazleton, Pa., in which fifteen clerks 
are employed. Is a director of the Kutztown National 
Bank, and is interested in the silk mill of the place. Has 
for, many years led the choir of the Kutztown Trinity Lu- 
theran Church. Owns the Hinterleiter Homestead, which 
has been in the possession of the famil}- nearly 140 years, 
and, as he has several sons, ma}" remain in the fam- 
ily name many years longer. Five children : Irene Viola^, 
b. Oct. 29, 1875 ; Asher Vincent^, b. Oct. 25, 1876 — d. Nov. 
30, 1876; Florence Alay^ b. May 25, 1878; Raymond Wil- 
liamS, b. July 6, 1883; Arthur Bear5,b. Sept. 13. 1885; Ma- 
bel Katie^ b. Sept. 2, 1880 — d. July 20, 1890. 

[This part of the family history was completed when the sad 
word came of the death of our esteemed relative, William G. Hin- 
terleiter, of Bright's disease, on the 3d day of July, 1903. He 
from time to time manifested great interest in this work, and it is 
seriously regretted that he was not permitted to see it in print. 
That he was eminently worthy of the eulogium that acquaintance 
and esteem would have prompted writing of him, is verified by 
the following excerpts from a lengthy obituary notice in the Kidz- 
tozvn Patriot: 

t 

"He was one of the most popular men in town, and identified 
with all the town's best interests for so many years that he was 
looked upon by everybody as one of the safe leaders in all public 
and private enterprises." 

"Seeing that Kutztown was destined to become an important 
business place, he abandoned the general store business, remod- 
eled his store, making it one of the most attractive and commo- 
dious outside of the larger cities, and established an u|:)-to-date 
dry goods store, which became widely known and was well pat- 
ronized by all the country around." 

"Trinity choir, under his leadership, was one of the best church 
choir organizations in this section, the music rendered being of a 
high order." 

"For his manv virtues, his genial good nature, and his estima- 
ble qualities of mind and heart, he was respected bv all who knew 
him." 



172 The Gernhardt Family History. 

"Being one of the original founders of Trinity Lutheran con- 
gregation, he occupied a leading place in its affairs from the be- 
ginning up to the time of his death, laboring diligently for the best 
interests of the church, and often at the sacrifice of personal com- 
fort." 

"To him' alone may be ascribed the honors for the erection of 
the handsome Trinity Church, which may serve as a memorial to 
him for that one act." 

"He had a number of young men as clerks during the past 25 
years, all of whom regarded him with tender affection and all 
made periodical visits to his home, a pleasant duty." 

"During the funeral the entire town paid its respects to the 
deceased by refraining from all business. Stores, etc., were 
closed and the church was filled to its utmost capacity."] 

9. Daniel Hinterleiter^ b. May 14, 1846; m. Hester A. 
Beiber, April 9, 1865; she d. Jan. i, 1889; r. Lebanon, Pa. 
Six children : 

i. Alpha L. H.^, b. July 31, 1865 ; r. Pittsburg, Pa. 

a. William W. H.^, b. Oct. 26, 1867; r. Jonestown, Pa. 

Hi. Kate L. H.^, b. April i, 1869; d. July 23, 1894. 

iv. George W. H.^, b. Oct. 20, 1871. 

V. E. D. H.^, b. Dec. 26, 1873; r. Lebanon, Pa. 

vi. Laura E. H.^' b. Oct. 26, 1875. 

10. Charles Alfred Hinterleiter^, b. Nov. 30, 1848; m. 
Miss Emma Catharine Barto, of Rockland, Berks County, 
Pa., Dec. 26, 1881. He d. at Lebanon, Pa., May 
13, 1 90 1. United with the Seventh Day Baptists, 
and was a zealous worker in that fold. He was a house 
painter, but the trade did not agree with him and was, per- 
haps, the cause of lowering his vitality and producing the 
disease, consumption, that slowly but finally carried him 
to his grave. Like his beloved niece, Minnie H. Sands, he 
rejoiced in the faith that he would be awakened out of his 
deep sleep in the grave, and that as he bore the image of 
the earthy, so he would in both soul and body bear the 
image of the heavenly. 




WILLIAM <;. IIINI'ERLKITKKL KI'T/.TuVVN. PA. 
18-ll-l'.i0o. 



TJic Gcrnliardt Family History. 173 

III. JONAS GERNERT3, b. Nov. 21. 1809; m. Lea Zeig- 
ler, Aug. 9, 1829; she d. Nov. 4, 1876; he d. ]\Iarch 4, 1893; r. 
in Upper ]\Iacnngie, on a farm adjoining the place of his l)irlh. 
Had ten children : 

1. JoxATiiAN Gernert^, b. 'Sla.x 25, 1830; m. Lucy Lentz, 

Feb. 21. 1858; r. Upper Macungic, on the homestead; o, 
farmer and butcher. He d. June 18, 1896. Five children: 

/. Frank Gcnicrt^, b. July 28, 1859; m. Annie R. Leibens- 
perger, May 13, 1882; r. Trexlerstown, Pa. Two chil- 
dren: Herbert F."^. b. Jan. 13, 1884; Lucv S.^ b. Dec. 
28, 1887. 

a. Mary Ida G.^, b. April 15, 1861 ; m. O. P. Leibensper- 
ger. June 4, 1881 ; r. jMcKeansburg, Pa. Five children: 

a. Clarence F. L.^, b. March 20. 1882 ; m. Mary Richard, 

]\Iarch 7; 1901. Child: Fordua Leibensperger"'^. 

b. Harry 0. L.\ b. Nov. 22, 1883. 

c. Lula LS>, b. Aug. 15, 1886. 

d. Lester D. L.^, b. March 5, 1889. 

e. Eva R. Lf\ b. Oct. 22, 1893. 

Hi. Eniina Caroline G.^, b. April 19, 1863; m. Alvin 
Stephen. Jan. S- 1889; r. East Texas, Pa. Five sons: 
Harvin R. S.^, b. July 7, 1889; Harrison F. S.s, b. May 
16, 1892; Willis A. S.^ b. June 2ix— d. April 9, 1896; 
Phaon S.6, b. Xov. 4. 1897; Ellis O. S.^, b. April 8, 
1901. 

iz'. Hannah Elinira G.^, h. Xov. 27, 1867; m. Stanley Grim, 
Jan. I, 1889; n. c. 

V. Harry C. G.^. b. Nov. 4, 1875; m. Clara Haaf, Sept. 17, 
1898'. 

2. Sarah Anna Amanda Gernert-*. b. July 17, 1832; m, 
Jacob Gift, June 25, 1864. She d. Dec. 2t,^. He is also 
dead. They had two daughters : Callie and Mary^. 

3. Anna Caroline G.^, b. Feb. 5, 1834; d. unm. Feb. 14, 1862. 

4. Charles Alfred Gernerd"*, b. Aug. 8, 1836; m. Elemena 
Gackenbach, April 8, 1858; r. Trexlerstown, Pa; o. min- 
ing iron ore and farming. Had : 



i;74 Tlic Gcrnhardt Family History. 

i Charles Wilson B. Gernerd^, b. Sept. 5, 1858; m. Miss 
Ellen V. Schmoyer, May 2, 1877; r. Allentown, Pa. 
Children: Frederick Benjamin'^, b. Nov. 22, 1879; 
Jennie Mabel^ b. Sept. 21, 1880; Bessie Rebecca'^, b. 
Sept. 24, 1882. 

Charles Wilson G.-^ has become widely known as the origi- 
nator and owner of the famous Lehigh County Duck Farm, In 
July, 1900, I had the pleasure of inspecting this most interesting 
duck breeding establishment, located on Cedar Creek, near Al- 
lentown, and seeing what six years of assiduous and enthusiastic 
devotion to a pet pursuit had then already accomplished. At the 
time of this visit he had as many as 16,000 ducks on his premises 
of about seven acres, nearly through the centre of which a swift 
and sparkling stream flows on its way to unite with the Lehigh 
River. The hatch since the beginning of the year had been about 
25,000 ducks, and was expected to reach 27,000 before the end 
of the season. The sight of such an aggregation of clean, pure 
white, healthy, moving mass of ducksl — great care is taken to 
keep the grounds clean and in proper sanitr.ry condition, in con- 
sequence of which, and other wise precautions to protect them, 
but few birds are ever lost — is in the highest degree pleasing and 
interesting. The place being quickly accessible by a trolley line 
from the city of Allentown, attracts a great many visitors ; and as 
the visitors require more or less attention, and come well sup- ■ 
plied with questions, it was found necessary, as well as a proper 
source of revenue, to charge each one a nickel for admission with- 
in the attractive enclosure. An elevated boardwalk runs through 
tlie length and across the ground, — as may be seen in the illustra- 
tion in this history — from which the visitors look down into and 
have a full view of the various pens, without entering them and 
disturbing the birds. 

In the hatching house, seen in the foreground of the accom- 
panying picture, we were shown 56 large incubators, capable of 
hatching out more than 16,000 eggs at one time, if needed. The 
Prairie State Incubator Company, in their 1903 catalogue say 
this is "the largest incubator room in the world." There were al- 




Oh 
P 



;:5 

CO 

s 

a:; 
'A 

P3 



O 




C. W. B. GKUNEKI)'>, A I.LKNI i iWN, I'A. 
Proprietor of the I nick Fiirii). 



TJic Ccvnhardt Family Ilislory. 175 

ways kept on hand from 500 to 1,000 old ducks for hixini^". though 
many of the eggs are bought from the farmers Hviug along the 
creek and in the neighborhood. The proprietor was then feeding 
more than a ton of mixed bran, chopped oats and corn, besides 
great piles of green food ; and was every day butchering — in a 
building especially constructed for the pur]iose, at the far end of 
the boardwalk^ — and by rail shipping about 100 ducks (a good- 
sized flock) to New York, to one man, who had contracted to take 
all he can raise, and who supplies such hotels as the Imperial and 
the Waldorf-Astoria. The ducks are voracious eaters, grow fast 
and fat, and are ready for the market before three months old, 
ac which age some weigh as much as five pounds each. 

Besides the ducks our enterprising kinsman also had quite a 
flock of pigeons, chiefly runts, the large scjuabs of which he was 
shipping to New York to the same party. Charles is by taste and 
nature well suited to build up such an enterprise, and perhaps 
not one in a hundred who think they would like to engage in the 
business would succeed as well. I remember that he was a real 
lover of birds, domesticated and wild, taking a true naturalist's 
delight in studying their ways, and that he was even quite an ex- 
pert taxidermist when yet a mere boy. His large yearly exhibits 
of poultry and pigeons since then at the Lehigh County Fair, 
noted as being one of the best agricultural fairs in all the land, 
always attracted a great deal of attention, and never failed ro win 
for him a long list of premiums. He is certainly the right man in 
the right place, and is getting the experience that will enable him 
to accomplish still greater results. He has, I learned since, pur- 
chased an additional 38 acres, and when I last heard was prepar- 
mg for a large extension of the duck-producing business. He ex- 
pects, after he has everything arranged in accordance with his 
gradually matured plan, to raise double and treble the number 
of ducks he has heretofore raised, besides increasing the yearly 
hatch of pigeons to about 10,000 pairs. The man who builds up 
such a plant is a public benefactor. 

ii. Harz'cy Anicricus Gcrncrd'", b. Nov. 12, 1859; m. Annie 
M. Dieft'enderfer ; n. c. 



176 Tlic Gcrnliavdt Family History. 

in. Christopher Peter G.°, b. Feb. 2y, 1862 ; d. in childhood. 

iv. Annie Leonora G.^, b. April 6, 1865 ; m. Elmer Peter 
Werley, June 14, 1888; r. Allentown, Pa. One son: 
Elmer Alden Werley^, b. March 17, 1889. 

V. Joseph Alfred Gernerd^, b. Oct. 12, 1866. 

vi. Jennie Atilla G.^, b. Dec. 12, 1869; m. Ernest Harry 
Baines, Oct. 22, 1896; n. c. 

5. FiANNA Amanda Gernerd^, b. Sept. 16, 1838; m. Joseph 
Holben, of Lyon Valley, Pa., Jan. 30, 1864. He d. Sept. 
17, 1901. Three children: 

i. Albert Peter Jiolhen^, b. Oct. 23, 1864; m. Jane Ever- 
ittx; he d. at Ironton, Pa., Sept. 29, 1899; o. butcher. 
Five children: Preston Franklin^, b. May 23, 1889; 
Lasda CedeUa^, b. Aug. 10, 1890; Leda Jane^, b. Oct. 
25, 1891 ; Penna Celestia*^, b. June 6, 1895 ; Warren 
Albert^, b. Sept. 23, 1896. 

ii. Franklin Jonas Holben^, h. Aug. 21, 1868; m. Alice 
Walbert, March 4, 1886. Is a practitioner of medicine 
and proprietor of Lyon Valley Hotel, at Lyon Valley, 
Pa. Three children : Estella M. F.^, b. Aug. 27, 1886 : 
Pearl L. D.s, b. May 7, 1890; Arthur F. f.<^, h. April 
12, 1893. 

in. Milton Joseph Holben^, h. Nov. 27, 1871 ; m. first, Ma- 
lara Werley, Dec. 25, 1893 ; second, Amanda Krummx, 
1898; r. Weisenberg, Lehigh County, Pa. Children: 
Lila Malara^, b. July 4, 1893 — d. May, 1894; Lawrence 
Charles^ b. April 18, 1895 ; Nevin^, b. June 22, 1899. 

6. Ellen Jane Gernert*, b. Nov. 17, 1840; m. James M. 
Gift, Oct. 16, 1864. 

7. Catharine E. Josephine Gernert*, b. June 9, 1842; m. 

Willoughby J. Bleiler, Oct. 26, 1867; r. Allentown, Pa. Mr. 
B. d. Oct. 24, 1894. Three children: 

i. Charles Jonas Bleiler^, b. June 6, 1868 ; m. Minnie G. 
Swartz, Oct. 10, 1895 ; r. Allentown, Pa. 

ii. Oscar W. Bleiler^, b. June 28, 1869; m. Elizabeth Siep, 
Oct. 31, 1890; r. Andreas, Pa.; o. Tel. Op. and Ag't of 
Lehigh Valley R. R. Children : Ralph C. B.^, b. June 
7, 1892; Charles M. B.s, b. Nov. 9, 1893. 



Tlic Gcnihardt Family History. 177 

Hi. Morris C. Bleiler^, b. Aug. 22, 187 1 ; o. traveling sales- 
man. 

8. Isaac Granville Gernert^, b. June 13, 1846; m. Hannah 

Louise Butz, May 25, 1865; r. Allentown, Pa.; o. hotel 
keeper. Nine children : 

i. Annie Louisa G.^, b. July 21, 1866 ; m. Preston B. Schadt, 
Nov. 15, 1888. 

a. Marx Cecelia GJ\ b. Sept. 13. 1867 ; m. Charles C. Haas, 
December, 1882. She d. March 28, 1886. 

Hi. George Milton G^, b. July 21, 1872; m. Miss Clara 
Meeker, March, 1896. 

iv. Ida Virginia G.^, b. Aug. 12, 1878. 

V. Sallie Ann Irene G.^, h. June 9, 1881. 

vi. Mabel Elmira G.^, b. June 9, 1886; d. Feb. 7, 1887. 

vii. Jeremiah B. G.^, b. May 20, 1875 ; d. Feb. 25, 1876. 

via. Ellen Jane^, d. in infancy. 

ix. Charles Alfred^, d. in infancy. 

9. Cecell\ Gernert-^, b. Jan. 29, 1849; c^- ^'^"g- 18, 1852. 

10. Maria Gernert^, b. Nov. 30, 1850 ; m. John Fineaur, 
Sept. 12, 1876; r. Allentown, Pa. Had ten children — five 
sons and five dausfhters, six of whom are deceased^. 



IV. AIARY ANN GERNERT^, b. July 25, 181 1 ; m. first, 
Charles Gackenbach, in 1834; second, John Bortz, March 10, 
1850; r. near Trexlerstown, Pa. She d. March 17, 1868. Had 
five children : 

1. AfAKiA A. Gackenbach-^, 1). Oct. 29, 1835; m. Tilghman 

Kudcr. She d. April, 1861. He d. March 20, 1869. Had 
four children : Tilghman^, Elenora^, Victor^, Isadore'^. 

2. Eliza A. Gackenbach^ b. Nov. 22, 1837; '"• ^\ ihiam 
Ilaines, Oct. 15, 1864. He d. June 28, 1903. She resides 
in Allentown, Pa. Five children : 

i. Ulysses C. Haines^, b. July 4, 1865. 

a. Minnie A. H.^, b. April 7, 1867; m. W. C. Hoats, April 
7, 1899. 



1 78 Tlie Gernliardt Family History. 

Hi. Li::cic E. H.°, h. Oct. 11, 1873; m. Herbert Fehr, Aug. 
9, 1900; he d. June 28, 1902. 

iv. Maggie E. H.^, b. March 28, 1875 ; d. Jan. 27, 1884. 

V. Harry W. H.°, h. April 15, 1880. 

3. Elvina Gackenbach*, b. March 8, 1840; m. Henry A. 

Scheridan, Dec. 24, 1867. She d. Feb. 26, 1880. They had: 

/. Bra H. S.^, b. July 11, 1871 ; r. Brehiigsville, Pa.; m.'^ 
July 12, 1892. 

a. Harry C. S.^, b. Feb. 11, 1875 ; d. April 19, 1882. 

Hi. Bertha A. S.^, b. Aug. 25, 1877; r. Breinigsville, Pa.; 
ni.x April i, 1899. 

4. Charles W. Gackenbach'*, b. Nov. 18, 1842 ; m. Miss Jane 
A. Schneck, of Schnecksville, Pa., July 7, 1862; r. Wichita, 
Kansas. Three children : 

i. Annie M. G.^,h. Jan. 30, 1865. 

ii. Farley A. G.°, b. July 14, 1867; m. Clara Leith, of Al- 
lentown, Pa., Nov. 30, 1887; r. Wichita, Kansas. Child: 
Blanche G.^, b. April 18, 1888. 

Hi. William^, b. iMay 15, 1869; d. in infancy. 

5. Oscar M. Bortz^, b. July 14, 185 1 ; d. young. 

- V. NATHAN GERNERD3, b. Jan. i, 1813; m. Salome 
Steininger, of Upper Macungie, Pa., Feb. 25, 1834. He d. June 
13, 1879, and she d. Feb. 3, 1876. They bought and for many 
years lived on the Gernert Homestead, in Macungie. They had 
eleven children : 

I. Anna Maria G.-*, b. Oct. 28, 1834; m. William Levan, of 
Reading, June 6, 1854. He d. April 20, 1881. She and 
her daughter, Alice, live together in Reading. She had 
seven children : 

i. Alice M. Levan^, b. Oct. 4, 1855 ; m. Edward Smeltzer, 
May 29, 1884. He d.x. 

ii. David Levan^, b. April 11, 1859; d. unm. May i, 1900. 

Hi. Ellen Levan^, b. Jan. 8, 1861 ; m. Cyrus Bollinger, June 
15, 1882; r. Reading, Pa. Children: Claude Henry 
B.6, b. June 23, 1886 ; Levan B.^, b. Nov. 24, 1889. 




XATIIAX GJ:KN"I:kT>, HKEINIi;sVI1.I.K, I'A. 
1S13-1879. 



! 




MRS. MAKIA LEVANi. !;KAI>IN(;, l*A. 



Tlic Gcnihardt Family Ilislory. 179 

iv. Sarah G. L.^, b. "May 7, 1863 ; d. Sept. 12, 1864. 

V. Charles Henry L.'', b. Oct. 14, 1864; m. Elmira Seig- 
fried, of Reading-, Pa., July 24, 1886; r. Altoona, Pa.; 
o. merchant tailor. Charles has been in business for 
himself about fourteen years, and by good business hab- 
its, never being idle, and by living up to his promises 
and studying to please his customers, has been reward- 
ed with deserved success. He carries a large stock of 
woolens, employs thirteen people in making up men's 
suits, and owns a handsome home. He and wife are 
members of the Episcopal Church. 

vi. Annie May Levan^, b. j\Iay 10, 1868; m. Harry Steve, 
June I, 1886; r. Reading, Pa. Children: Helen Eliza- 
beth Steve^, b. April 22, 1887; Alice Marie S.^ b. April 
8, 1889; Robert William S.\ b. Feb. 10, 1898. 

vii. Rosie Esther Levant, b. Oct. 29, 1872 ; m. Sylvester 
Oscar Houser, April 24, 1897; r. Reading, Pa. 

James Gernert^, b. Nov. 6, 1837; m. Sarah Jacoby, Jan. 
29, 1855 ; was a member of Co. G, 5th Pa. V. M. 
(1862), and served during Confederate invasion of 
Maryland ; r. Allentown, Pa. Ten children : 

i. Sylvester T. G.\ h. March 28, 1855. 

a. Aliee M. G}, b. Dec. 4, 1856. 

Hi. Obadiah J. G.^, b. Jan. 5. 1859 ; m. Carolina Sanwalt, of 
Ohio, 1885 ; has resided near Tiffin, O., since 1881 ; o. 
farmer. Children: Eva Luella^ b. Feb. 16, 1886; John 
Elmer^, b. Jan. i, 1888; Daisy ^lay^, b. ^lay 25, 1894; 
Charles Wesley^, b. June 27, 1899. 

iv. Morris J. G.^, h. Oct. 24, i860. 

V. Stezvart G.^, h. March 18, 1865. 

vi. George L. G.^, b. :\Iay 18, 1867; m.x Dec. 31, 1889. 

vii. Eliza J. G.^, b. Jan. i, 1870. 

via. Harrison G.^. h. March 6, 1872; d. April 6, 1873. 

ix. Lanra J\ G".^, b. Jan. 22, 1874. 

X. Elmer R. G.^, b. June i, 1875; d. July 10, 1893. 

Harrison Augustus Gernerd-*. b. ^lay 2, 1839; m. Caro- 
lina Shaffer, of Bath, Pa., Nov. 3, i860; r. Bath; o. dentist. 
One son : 



i8o TJic Gernhardt Family History. 

i. Elmer Ellsivorth Gcrnerd^, b. Aug. 13, 1861 ; m. Mary C. 
Kromer, of Bath, Pa., Oct. i, 1881. Graduated from 
Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery in 1883 ; r. 
Bethlehem, Pa. Has four children : 

a. Carrie Lovina G.^, b. Jan. 8, 1882. 

h. Robert Pattison G}\ b. Dec. 25, 1883. Graduated from 
Philadelphia College of Dental Surgery in 1902. 

c. Floyd Harry G.^h. May 28, 1885. 

d. Emily Kromer G.^, b. June 11, 1889. 

4. Sarah Eliza Gernerd*, b. July 23, 1841 ; m. Obadiah B. 
Keller, Dec. 25, 1863 ; r. Lyons Station, Berks County, Pa. 
Four children : 

i. Harry A. K.^, b. June 18, 1865; d. Feb. 27, 1871. 

a. Emily G. K.^, h. Sept. 22, 1867; m. Charles M. Hoch, 
July I, 1885 ; r. Woodside, Del. Children : Harry^, b. 
Jan. 9, 1887 ; Elmer^, b. April 10, 1889 ; Walter^, b. Aug. 
16, 1891 ; Charles Ira^, b. June 16, 1894; Ernest^, b. 
May 2, 1897; Paul^, b. Feb. 13, 1899. 

Hi. Frederic Ainnwn K.^, b. Jan. 3, 1872; m. Miss Annis 
Frost, of Brockwayville, Pa., Aug. 15, 1894; r. Tion- 
esta, Pa., and is at present Treasurer of Forest County. 
Has: Raymond Wilson K.^, b. March 16, 1897; How- 
ard Frederick^, b. Nov. 13, 1899. 

iv. Sarah May K.^, b. Oct. 19, 1882. 

5. George William Gernerd*, b. Nov. 4, 1844; m. Rebecca 

M. Zeigler, May 2y, 1882; o. farmer; r. Rockland Town- 
ship, Berks County, Pa. He d. March 8, 1888. One daugh- 
ter: Sarah Elizabeth R. Gernerd^, b. Aug. 21, 1883. 

6. William Morris Gernert'*, b. July 11, 1847; "^- Amelia B. 
Rothermel, of Blandon, Pa., May 28, 1868 ; r. West Lees- 
port, Pa., o. farmer. Seven children : 

i. Oscar Jeremiah G.^, b. Feb. 26, 1870; m. Mary Bushy, 
Aug. 20, 1892 ; r. Allentown, Pa. Children : Deborah 
Rebecca G.'^, b. Oct. 3, 1896; Charles Elmer G.^, b. Oct, 
30, 1899. 

a. Annie Martha G.^, b. Oct. 15, 1871 ; m. John Yenser, 
Oct. 19, 1890; r. Lyons Station, Pa. Children: Irvin 
Jeremiah Y.6, b. Feb. 16, 1890; Helen Alay Y.*', b. Nov. 
16, 1891 ; Florence Amelia Y.^, b. May 23, 1896. 




MRS. MAl;V ANNA 1'.m|:T/.^ lUEXLERTOWN, PA. 

1811-1868. 



The GcrnJiardt Family History. i8i 

Hi. Mary May G.^, b. ]\[ay 17, 1873; d. June 17, 1874. 

iv. William Nathan G.^, b. Nov. 28, 1875 ; m. Emma Clay, 
Dec. 17, 1898; r. Rickenback, Pa. Son: Earl Jacob 
G.^, b. Jan. 7, 1901. 

V. Harry Allen GJ\ b. Nov. 4, 1877. 

z'i. Edtnond David G.^, b. Dec. ig, 1879. 

vii. Eva Salome G.^, b. Nov. 22, 188 1 ; m. Charles Ricken- 
back, Nov. 25, 1899; r. Rickenback, Pa. Children: Ma- 
bel Rebecca R.*^, b. April 8, 1900; Alva Salome R.^, b. 
April 20, 1901. 

7. Ellen Catharine Gernert^ b. Sept. 2, 1849; m. Jacob 
Aleitzler, July 4, 1869; r. Braddock, Pa. Three children: 

i. Annie Meitzler^, b. Aug. 30, 1870 ; m. Charles H. Huns- 
berger, Dec. 22, 1888. She d. Nov. 6, 1901. and was 
buried at Allentown, Pa. Two children : Esther Ellen 
H.6, b. Oct. 29, 1889; Ruth Alinnie H.^, b. March 16, 
1893. 

ii. George N. J. M.^, b. Jan. 6, 1874; m. Annie \^irginia 
jMoyer, April 18, 1897. 

Hi. Lydia G. M.^, h. April 5, 1881 ; m. S. A. Wallace, June 
12, 1901. One son: Albert L. M. Wallace^, b. Jan. 5, 
1903. 

9. Hannah jNIartha Gernert^, b. July i, 1854; m. Jeremiah 
Fritz, July 20, 1872; r. Reading, Pa. Children: Irvin Clin- 
ton F.5, b. Oct. 25, 1872; Harry Nathan F.^, b. Feb. 5, 
1878. 

10. John Gernert-*, b. May 14, 1857; "i- Kathe Mathis, Jan. 
10, 1886; r. Sandusky, O. Four children: Reistolf G.^"". b. 
May 9, 1890; ^lilton G.^ b. Sept. 4, 1892; Ellie M. G.=, 
b. Sept. 2, 1895; Maria M. G.^, b. Oct. 15, 1897. 

11. Milton Oscar Gernert^, b. Nov. 10, 1859: m. Addie S. 
Smith, of Salfordville, Pa., Dec. 8, 1880; o. harness maker. 
Four children: Ednia G.^ b. July 21, 1881 — deceased; 
Verdia G.^, b. Aug. 6, 1885; Alice G.^, b. ^Farch 15. 188S; 
Webb A. G.5, b. Feb. 2, 1896. 

VI. DAVID GERNERD^ b. April 13. 1815 : m. Miss Lydia 
Mohr, of Fogelsville, Pa., in 1835, settled in Muncy, i'a., in 1839; 
o. chairmaker. Learned his trade in the same shop where his 



i82 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

father had been an apprentice before him. He died Dec. 31, 1846, 
ill his 32d year. 

If he were to rise from his grave now and find his Httle boy 
an old gray-headed man, more than twice as old as he was when he 
died, he would — one may imagine — be amazed by the change. 
Great surprises are no doubt in store for all. He was a devout 
believer in the Book which declares that the things which God 
hath prepared for them that love Him have not entered into the 
heart of man. My mother died May 6, 1855. I was an only 
child, and was born on the old homestead (where my father was 
born), July 22, 1836. Alarried Louise C. Sieger, of Allentown, 
Pa., July 15, 1862. We likewise had but one child : Lydia Sieger 
Gernerd^, b. June 5, 1868, and d. Nov. 18, 1893. 

Lydia in August, 1893, fell from a swing while at a picnic, 
from which accident — though not at first regarded as serious — a 
three months illness resulted. An internal abscess developed, every- 
thing was done for her that medical experience advised, a sur- 
gical operation was resorted to, but there was no relief until death 
came and ended her suft'erings. I can not trust myself to write 
^^hat my heart would dictate of one so dutiful and appreciative, 
whose life was so dear to her parents, but I copy the following 
from a notice of her — written by a friend who knew her intimately 
all her life — that appeared immediately after her death in the 
Muncy Luminary: 

"Few deaths have occurred in our community that awakened 
the sympathy and caused such universal sorrow as that of Lydia 
Sieger Gernerd, who passed away at 7 o'clock on the eve of No- 
vember 18, 1893, after weeks of painful illness, which she bore 
with heroic fortitude, all the time contending she never would get 
well, but manifested no fear of death. 

"She was the only child of J. M. M. and Louisa S. Gernerd, 
and was born in Muncy, June 5, 1868, and brought up by her 
parents in the most careful and painstaking manner, with every 
wish gratified, whether 'uttered or unexpressed,' and she repaid 
them with an affectionate attachment and lovingness, manifested 
by her obedience and assistance as a dutiful daughter and a 
fondness for her home. * * =^ It would be ungen- 




J. M. M. i.i;i;nei;i)|. mim ^. r.\. 



i 

i 



i 




.YIilA >. i.Ki:.\K.l:l", Ml N( V. I'A. 
1868-1893. 



Tlic Gcvnhardt Family History. 183 

erous and ungrateful to withhold giving voice to the 
many noble qualities that adorned the whole life of Lvdia 
S. Gernerd — happy, amiable, generous and confiding, she won 
hosts of friends, and was a leading spirit among her companions, 
who mourn her loss with a deep, unutterable sorrow. She was a 
worker in the church, Sunday school, benevolent societies, and 
among the King's Daughters was one of the most active. For 
several years she was organist in St. James' P. Episcopal Church, 
and her touch and renditions were so pleasing that there was uni- 
versal regret when she resigned. 

"Her pilgrimage here was sliort, Imt by labors of love she well 
fulfilled the ministries of life, and we treasure up in our memories 
many incidents of a pleasing kind connected with this bright, win- 
some girl, whose speaking lips the Angel of Death hath so cruelly 
closed, but set a" seal of Peace upon her brow, for if ever a dead 
face told of perfect Rest and Peace, that of Lydia's did, as she lay 
in her handsome casket upon a bed of roses and white carnations 
— (her mother's tribute) — while all around her were heaped the 
most beautiful floral gifts of aft'ection from friends, relatives and 
societies. The last sad rites took place from her home at 3.30 
o'clock on Tuesday afternoon, where hundreds of her friends as- 
sembled to take a last look upon all that was mortal of Lydia S. 
Gernerd. "^ '^ * When the funeral cortege reached the cem- 
etery, there too had the hands of afifection been busy, beautifying 
the open grave and upturned earth with lovely flowers, so her last 
resting place was amid the beautiful blossoms she so loved to imi- 
tate upon canvas when living, but now 

'Death lies on her like an untimely frost 
Upon the sweetest flower of all the field.' " 

A word about myself. If to pass so many of the family with- 
out special notice of their lives and narrate some of the facts of 
m}' own, may seem unseemly, let it be remembered that everything 
of interest respecting others that could be obtained without the 
opportunity of personal interviews has been given, and that what 
I failed to get I could surely not give. Years have been spent in 
gathering and arranging the data for this imperfect history, and 
no one can realize how irksome such an undertaking is without 
experience. In many cases I failed to secure even complete family 
records. At least two hundred letters must have been written that 



184 TJic Gernliardt Family History. 

were never answered, and numbers were returned bearing the 
postoffice stamp, '.'unclaimed." What I write of myself are facts 
ready at hand, and required no effort to get. Allowance should, 
therefore, be made because this valuable space is not devoted to 
others. 

I attended our common schools until twelve years old, but sel- 
dom enjoyed the privilege. Was a sickly, nervous, wayward 
youngster. When a year or two old was so puny that Grand- 
mother Gernert declared I would never grow up, but — such is the 
mystery and hap of life — the frail boy has already lived to be much 
older than both his parents and three of his grandparents, and now 
at an age when his other grandparent was a physical wreck is en- 
gaged in the laborious task of compiling a Family History. If 
allowed to live more in the open air and sunlight, and not forced 
to go to school so much against his will, the boy might have grown 
more robust and liked school better. But a fond and well-meaning 
father, who himself had but a few months schooling, and no 
knowledge of physiology and hygiene, made him go, thinking 
that going to school was the all-essential thing to prepare a boy 
for a useful life — a very great mistake. I remember w-ell how, more 
than sixty years ago, I was called up several times each day merely 
to say my letters, and by and by to spell words of one and two syl- 
lables from a primer, and then compelled to keep quiet during all 
the rest of the school hours — an outrage on child nature. How I 
did hate school ! Herbert Spencer said, "The first requisite is to 
be a good animal," but I was not even that. Once an irate and 
unreasoning teacher held me up by my feet and bumped my head 
roughly on the floor, but a stout, broad-shouldered pupil, incensed 
by this unwonted exhibition of rudeness, pulled off his coat and 
rushed forward to turn him upside down if he did not instantly 
desist and reverse my position. The upright posture to which 
mother nature gives every boy an absolute right was immediately 
restored, and — ^there was peace. A'ly protector became a great 
man in my eyes. Several years later another impatient and un- 
thinking teacher tried to help me in arithmetic, but because I was 
rather dull in comprehending what he said he became greatly en- 



Tlic Gcni/iardt I'aniily History. 185 

raged, and gave me a terrific broad-side with his l)ig-, heavv hand 
that gave me the sensation for a time that either my cranium was 
smashed, or that my neck was broken — and perhaps it would not 
have mattered much which had happened. There were many 
things that prejudiced me against school. I got entirely too 
many lickings. There were some competent and considerate 
teachers in those days as well as now, but many were not qualified 
for teaching young ideas how to shoot. The day of rigid examin- 
ations, of teachers' certificates, normal and model schools, moral 
suasion, pictures on the walls and flowers in the school rooms, 
had not yet arrived. 

But life is from first to last the great and real school. Every 
one can by choice and chance have good and efficient schoolmas- 
ters. There is always opportunity to make good use of ones time, 
brain and hands, and learn. Tw'o years after marriage, and after 
having served eighteen months as a clerk in the postofifice at 
Muncy — a postoffice is a good school to learn some things — I 
started out in business for myself in a small way, opening a music 
and variety store, with which I soon combined a circulating libra- 
ry, and continued the business until 1872. Also served two terms 
about this time as school director, three terms as a notary public, 
and at different times, about ten years in all, as book-keeper in 
the First National Bank of j\Iuncy. 

While keeping store I purchased an amateur ])rinting outfit 
and started to publish a little serial, w ith the only idea at first of 
advertising my business. As the intention was only to issue it 
once-in-a-wdiile, as business and inclination ])rompted, 1 entitled 
it Now AND Then. A taste was suddenl}- aceiuired for collecting 
and ]:)rescrving items of local history, an intellectual diet that prov- 
ed very acceptable to its indulgent readers. A number was launch- 
ed forth every )w:^' and t/icii until May. 1892. when the third vol- 
ume was completed — the three volumes together comprising a 
total of forty-three numbers, and consisting of 520 double column 
pages. Brown, Rimk & Co.'s History of Lycoming County, on 
page 479, says : 



i86 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

"A little historical magazine, called Nozv and Then, was start- 
ed by J. M. M. Gernerd in June, 1868, and published irregularly 
up to February, 1878, when it was discontinued. During the ten 
years of its existence nineteen numbers were published, and it be- 
came very popular on account of the valuable local historical mat- 
ter it contained. After a rest of ten vears Mr. Gernerd resumed 
his Now and Then in an enlarged- form as a bi-monthly July- 
August, 1888, and continued it up to May, 1892. It largely in- 
creased in popularitv and value during the four vears it was pub- 
lished." 

In 1875 I undertook to^ raise money by one dollar subscriptions 
for the erection of a monument to the memory of the bold pioneer 
of the West Branch Valley of the Susquehanna, Capt. John 
Brady, who was killed by the Indians near the site of Muncy Bor- 
ough, in April, 1779, and I finally succeeded in thus raising about 
$1,600. In the centennial year of his death, 1879, the plain but 
gracefully proportioned cenotaph of Maine granite was erected on 
a large circular lot in, and that was donated by, the Muncy Ceme- 
tery — hardly two hundred rods from the site on which the hero 
had built his houses and the stockade around them, as a place of 
refuge for the then harassed inhabitants of the neighborhood, 
known as Fort Brady. The memorial was unveiled on the 15th 
day of October, in the presence of the greatest gathering of people 
ever seen in the Muncy Valley. The Hon. John Blair Linn, the ora- 
tor of the occasion, in a foot-note to his oration, which, with much 
other matter relating to the monument and the day, forms the con- 
tents of a pamphlet published soon after the dedication, says : 

"Meginness, in his History of the West Branch Valley, No- 
vember 1st, 1856, on page 239, says: 'The people of Lycoming 
County cannot show a better appreciation of true patriotism than 
by erecting an humble slab, at least, in perpetuation of the mem- 
ory of the gallant Brady. Let the sacred spot where his ashes 
repose be marked in this way, with a tablet, on which to inscribe 
the many virtues of the noble dead.' The praise for carrying out 
this suggestion all belongs to J. M. M. Gernerd, of Muncy, who, 
by days and nights of toil, has carved from Mr. Meginness' slab 
a cenotaph of wondrous beauty." 

It may be proper to add here that I likewise soon afterwards 



TJic GcniJiardt Family History. 187 

raised a sufficient sum to provide also the "humble slab/' of gran- 
ite, which now marks the spot, at Hartley 1 1 all, three miles north- 
east of Muncy, where the ashes of the hero repose 

This was not my first monument venture. Thirteen years 
previous I had raised money for the erection of a Soldiers' Monu- 
ment — one of the first, if not the first raised in Pennsylvania, to 
the memory of the defenders of the Unions — by means of a gift- 
concert, a method of raising mone}' not then so luifavorably re- 
garded as now. The ladies of Muncy had by festivals and dra- 
matic entertainments already raised about $500, when I announced 
the scheme of selling 10,000 tickets at $1 each, and proposed to 
give to the ticket-holders $8,000 in pianos, organs, music boxes, 
spy-glasses, microscopes, etc., and $2,000 to the monument fund. 
The undertaking was a success. The cause was unselfish, appeal- 
ed to the patriotism of the people, and the scheme was endorsed 
by the best citizens. But times have changed, the people have 
changed, I have changed, and the laws have been changed, and 
there are now well-understood reasons wh}- all such chance opera- 
tions should be discouraged, no matter how honestly conducted, 
nor what the object may be. The money raised wjls put out at 7 
per centum per annum interest, until the fund amounted to $3,000, 
In 1869 the beautiful marble monument in the Muncy Cemetery 
was dedicated. Seventy-one names of the gallant boys — many of 
them companions of mine in my boyhood — who went to the \var 
from this neighborhood, and fell in battle or died in hospitals, are 
enrolled on the four sides of the dado supporting the shaft, and 
the bodies of nineteen of the number are mouldering l)ack to earth 
around its base. 

At the age of 13 I began! to make a collection of curiosities — 
rare, and not rare, just as happened — and in time had a museum 
that I valued highly, if no one else did, consisting of fossils, min- 
erals, insects, Indian relics, and various other objects. This be- 
came a rather serious and expensive hobby. Making collections 
of little practical benefit, either to the collector or to the jniblic, 
or to science, more from a kind of craze, or selfish gratificalion of 
personal taste, often to the ne.glcct of business and the duiies of 



i88 The Gernhardt Family History. 

life and family, and often, too, to the annoyance of people who 
have chanced to find a few relics, is not an uncommon thing, as 
examples of such importunate hobbyhorsical relic-hunters may be 
found in almost every community. To tell the truth, I was one 
of them. A witty writer has said that, "Modesty is only egotism 
turned wrong-side out." My kindred must not think this is too 
much of the wrong side out. Not having the time required, nor 
the means and knowledge to make good collections of so many 
kinds of objects, I finally devoted my recreation hours to gather- 
if^g such imperishable things as stone axes, arrow points, celts, 
gorgets, pestels, drills, pipes, pottery fragments that the aborigi- 
nes have left scattered over the soil on which they hunted, fished, 
ate, slept, played, danced, loved, hated and fought, precisely as our 
own untutored ancestors did in ancient Brittannia, Germania and 
Gallia ; and as many even in the civilized world are now practical- 
ly doing, with hardly a better conception or greater enjoyment of 
intellectual life. Of one thing well informed people are now gen- 
erally well convinced, and that is, that the red man is by nature 
just as good, is, under equal conditions, just as capable of civili- 
zation, and is as truly made in the Divine Likeness, as the wdiite 
man. As to the collection of Indian relics, Meginness, the eagle 
of historians of this section, thought it worthy of notice, and in 
his revised History of the West Branch Valley, 1889, said: 

"The largest assortment, consisting of about 7,000 specimens, 
is found in the magnificent collection of J. M. M. Gernerd, of the 
borough of Muncy. His museum is methodically arranged and 
carefully classified, so that those who have any taste for examin - 
ing and studying the rude and peculiar handiwork of a race now 
extinct in this part of the country, can go there and spend an hour 
or two in it with profit. The proprietor, who is a gentleman of 
intelligence and culture, always takes pleasure in explaining the 
curiosities. Many friends have assisted him in making the collec- 
tion, by contributing articles found by them at various times, be- 
cause they knew that he not only appreciated, but greatly prized 
such contributions, and would label and place them where they 
could be seen and studied. His collection of spear and arrow 
heads is very full. These implements were fashioned in many 
styles by the manufacturers, which show that they possessed some 



The Gcnilianit I-aiiiily Hislury. 189 

definite idea as to Avhat the\' were doing" in their rude workshops. 
The study of these relics alone affords a pleasant and i)rofitablc 
pastime. His collection of gorgets, pestels, sinkers, gouges, stone 
axes , tomahawks, pipes, and ceremonial weapons, is also very 
large and many of the specimens are exceedingl\- rare and valu- 
able." 

When the Confederate army attempted, in 1862, and again in 
1863, to change the seat of war to northern soil, the people of the 
North more fully realized the desperate valor of the Southern 
people, the supreme danger of disunion, and the necessity of 
prompt action to turn back the invaders. They, who were then 
old enough to remember the real situation, can alone understand 
the spirit and excitement that moved like a great and irresistible 
tidal wave over the Northern States. It was a day of dark fore- 
bodings. I was confident, as many were, that if whipping the 
South was more than a breakfast spell, it would soon at least end 
in a noon-spell. But two months later many who were so san- 
guine were fearfully alarmed and felt impelled to hasten away as 
militia to help drive back the invaders. I belonged to the 14th 
Pennsylvania Emergency. When we got near the front things 
began to look terribly warlike. We lay in line of battle for a 
number of days. Fortunately for the undrilled and awkward (but 
not ragged) militia, however, the out-flanked, but gallant battle- 
scarred Army of the Potomac, was soon on hand to cope with the 
emboldened Army of Northern V'irginia on the fields of Antietam 
and Sharpsburg, September 16 and 17, and our erring brothers of 
the South were persuaded that the prudent move for them to make 
v/as to skip back across the Potomac into ( )ld \^irginia. But they 
went rather deliberately, as if the\- thought the\- had come North 
rather late in the summer to have a good time, and concluded to 
defer their visit until another season. And earlier the next sum- 
mer thev came. McClellan with his superior force might have 
won a verv decisive victory at Antietam, but in justice to him it 
must be said that (here was want of concert on the part of some of 
the corps commanders, and that the attacks on the Confederate 
positions were not matle promptly and simultaneously as he had 



IQO The Gcrnliardt Fainily History. 

ordered. And yet many think that had McClellan vigorously re- 
newed the struggle the morning after the battle, he could have de- 
stroyed the rebel army. Perhaps ! McClellan, it is insisted, had 
decided to renew the fight, but he found his heavy guns almost 
without ammunition, and that lo.ooo of his troops were stragglers 
among the hills. But I must not torget the militia. McClellan 
sent a letter of thanks to the Governor of Pennsylvania for call- 
ing them out. Though they did not share in the fighting, he said 
the moral support they rendered "was )ioiic the less mighty." I 
always shall thank McClellan for these kind and mighty words. -^ 

While the 14th P. V. M. was encamped in a piece of wood- 
land between Hagerstown and Sharpsburg, in advance of the other 
regiments of our division, a scout rode up to our Colonel one day 
and said that a strong body of rebel cavalry had the preceding 
night approached our camp and appeared to contemplate paying 
us a visit, and cautioned him to be on the alert, as he might be 
attacked at almost any moment. Shortly after the regiment was 
given a lesson on the formation of a hollow square, right across 
the road on which the cavalry was expected to come, and each 
company was instructed as to the position it was promptly to take 
in case of alarm. It was already dark when the companies scat- 
tered to their camping grounds and stacked their arms, forming a 
long line in the woods, and fires were lit and the men began to 
make coffee and open their haversacks. The pickets were on at 
their posts ready to give instant warning in case of any ill-dispos- 
ed visitors. The scene under the overhanging foliage of the trees, 
the long line of stacked guns, and the busy campers, as seen by 
the light of many fires, was new, strange and novel to most of the 
men, as there were but few who had seen service. We soon felt 
at ease, ready to enjoy a quiet and restful night. Bang! went off 
a gun in the direction of the enemy. Then another! "Fall in!" 
"Fall in!" the command ran quickly along the line. In an instant 
all was commotion, every man rushing to the stack that contained 
his gun. I remember seeing one man near me so confused that 
he could not think where he had stacked his, and in his awkward 
flurry to find it got in the way of the biggest man in the regiment. 




IKWIN I'ltAXlCLIX I'KNS-IKKMACHEK"', 
I I in, A V, I'A. 



The Gcrnliardt Family History. 191 

who was himself so madly excited and full of fight that he gave 
his poor bewildered comrade a kick that sent him flying nearly a 
rod. The scene for a few moments was one of terror, but of un- 
flinching determination, and would have been a grand subject for 
a great painting. Quicker than I relate this soul-stirring incident 
the men were all in their proper places, and the hollow square was 
again formed. It is wonderful how quick men can act and do the 
right thing when under the spur of intense excitement. But not 
another sound did we hear, and by and b\' the very silence became 
painful and ominous.. Did the Johnnies know that we were ready 
to receive them, and would they now wait until we were all 
alseep? I will merely add that we lay there on our arms under 
the pressure of suspense and vmcertainty until morning, and then 
filed back to our places and — eat our breakfast. We had another 
such a fright a night or two after, when with other regiments of 
militia we were arrayed in line of battle to guard the road leading 
from Hagerstown to the Potomac, but the Boys in Gray then also 
failed to come, and some of us were "mighty" glad — that — the 
moral support we rendered was so "mighty !" 

In June, 1863, Lee, with a greater army and still greater con- 
fidence, again crossed the Potomac to invade the North, and great 
was the terror he again inspired, especially in Pennsylvania. 
Again I enlisted, for three months, in the 37th Pa. V. A I. — again 
was honorably discharged, again never once heard the song 
of a rebel bullet, and again the militia rendered a "mighty" ser- 
vice. The campaign of Gettysburg, as now termed, covered a 
great extent of territory, from the Potomac as far north as Har- 
risburg, and from the Susquehanna River down through the Cum- 
berland Valley. Lee had his deliberately formed plans, and it 
was now the business of the Union generals to find out what they 
were, and when and where to strike and checkmate him. The 
duty of the militia was again to stand guard at certain points 
along the border and support the main army. Forty years have 
since come and gone, yet how vividly some of the sights then seen 
come to mind while writing of that trying period. As the 37th 
drew near where it first was placed on duty a body of rebel pris- 



192 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

oners, who were being marched to the rear for safety, were halted 
on the side of the road to ahow us to pass. They were a rough, 
dirty, defiant lot, and never can I forget the contemptuous manner 
in which they regarded, or pretended to regard, us militiamen. 
They sneeringly taunted us with such remarks as, "Say, Yanks, 
where are you-uns going with them guns?" "What are you-uns 
going to shoot ?" "Give us a lock of your hair to take back to the 
gals you-uns left behind!" "Bobby Lee will soon be around after 
you-uns." Some of us wondered what the consequence would be 
when we came into contact with an army of such irrepressibles 
with guns in hand and plenty of ammunition. The brave boys of 
the Army of the Potomac knew what the fearful result was on 
the 1st, 2d and 3d days of July, at Gettysburg. And the not less 
valorous Confederates will never forget either what happened to 
them, as the tide of war was there turned against them, never to 
ebb back again. 

Vn. SOLOMON GERNERT3, b. Feb. 20, 1817; m. Annie 
M. Eisenhart, April 20, 1840. He d. April 22, 1887; she d. June 
10, 1896, and both are buried at Jonestown, Lebanon County, Pa. 
Ten children : 

I. Joseph H. Gernert"*, b. Jan. 24, 1841 ; m. Elizabeth Mohn, 
of Annville, Pa., Sept. 2, 1865; o. farmer; r. Myerstown, 
Pa. Ten children : 

i. Harrison Moses G.^, b. Sept. 4, 1867; m. Emma Pfautz, 
Sept. 9, 1896. 

a. Mary Ellen G.^, b. Alarch 25, 1869; m. Amos Conrad 
Rabel, of Annville, Pa., Dec. 20, 1890. Children : Miles 
Walter^, b. Oct. 9, 1891 ; Stella Elizabeth^, b. Feb. 19, 
1895 ; Warren Joseph*^, b. Jan, 9, 1898. 

Hi. Albert William^, b. Feb. 27, 1871 ; m. Lizzie T. Brown, 
June 6, 1895. He graduated from the Hahnemann 
Medical College, of Philadelphia, May 2, 1895, and soon 
after commenced the practice of his profession at 
Myerstown, Pa. 

iv. Priscilla Judy^, b. July 29, 1873 ; d. Dec. 18, 1874. 
V. Calvin Joseplr", b. July 22, 1875 ; d. in infancy. 




St)l.()MuN' (IKIiNKUTi, .loNESTi iWN. I'A. 
11S17-1887. 



i 



The Gcni/iardl Tainily History. 193 

vi. Cora Jennie'', h. July 29, 1876. 

vii. Harvey John'', h. Sept. 10, 1878; m. Alary Ulrich, of 
Myerstown, June 2, lyoo. 

via. Joseph Adanr\ h. July 18, 1880. 

ix. IVilliain Arthnr'', b. Alay 13, 1882. 

X. John ^Idaui^, b. June 22, 1884. 

2. Hiram Gernert^ b. Nov. 16, 1842; m. Lucinda Kirst, of 

Fredericksburg, Pa., Jan. 10, 1867: o. saddier and farmer; 
r. near Cloud Chief, Oklahoma. Three children : 

i. Kevere Kirst^, b. March 4, 1872; m. Nov. 25, 1897. O"^ 
daughter: Esther Ulrich'^, b. Oct. 11, 1899. 

//. Lena Florence^, b. Nov. 14, 1876. 

Hi. Walter Byron'", b. Sept. 2, 1881. 

3. Susanna Gernert'*, b. Sept. i, 1844; m. George W. Has- 
singer, of Reading, Pa., Sept. 22, 1872. Mr. H. d. Nov. 
18, 1900. Two children: 

i. Elkvood Solomon^, b. Nov. 11, 1873; m. Flora Ethel 
Glaze, Sept. 10, 1901. He is head book-keeper in the 
Second National Bank, of Reading. Became identified 
with the institution when 18 years old, directly after 
graduating from the Reading Hig-li School. 

//. Walker Byron-\ b. March 17, 1876: d. Oct. 18, 1880. 

4. Helen Gernert"*, b. Sept. 8, 1846; m. Dr. William Grum- 
bein, of Lebanon, Pa., Nov. 4, 1880. The Dr. d. Oct. 28, 
1884. She d. Sept. 22, 1901. No issue. 

5. Francis Gernert"', b. Dec. 26. 1847. ^^ t-Mit West many 
years ago and has never been heard from. Is believed to 
be dead. 

6. Solomon Syl\est1':r Gkkni:ki-^, b. CJct. 20, 1850; m. Emily 

Elizabeth Trexler, of Breinigsville, Pa., Feb. 8, 1876; o. 
tinman and roofer; r. Reading, Pa. Eleven children : Irwin 
Jonas 5, b. Sept. 15, 1877; Herbert Solomon^, b. Nov. 15, 
1879; Arthur James Garfield-'^, b. July 26. 1881 ; Clarence 
Stillman^. b. April 26. 1883: Chester Francis^, b. May 24, 
1884; Jennie Lealr\ b. April 4, 1886; Ralph Clinton^, b. 
Dec. 28, 1887; Leroy Trexler^, b. Feb. 17, 1891 — d. in infan- 
cy; Raymond Sylvester^, b. Aug. 14, 1893; Stanley Nor- 
man-"^, 1). March 21, 1895; Emily I'dizabeth-"'. b. July 25, 
1901 — d. in infancy. 



194 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

7. George Albert G.*, b. March 26, 1853 ; d. in infancy. 

8. Elias G.^ b. Nov. 24, 1855; d. Aug. 4, i860. 

9. Milton J. Gernert*, b. Jan. 24, 1858; m. Miss Lizzie 
Moore, of Huntingdon, Pa., March 24, 1897 ; r. Hunting- 
don ; o. hardware business. Children : Ruth^, b. June, 
1899, and d. in August; Mary May^ b. April 14, 1901. 

10. Jeremiah Gernert*, b. March 23, i860; m. Emma L. 
Spatz, June 29, 1895 ; r. Denver, Lancaster County. One 
child: Eugene Bryan^, b. Aug. 2, 1898. 

VHL HENRY GERNERT^, b. Nov. 6, 1818; m. Phoebe 
Eisenhart, a sister of his brother Solomon's wife, Feb. 18, 1841. 
He d. Nov. I, i860, and she d. Dec. 31, i860. Eight children: 

1. Matthias Gernert'^, b. Aug. 19, 1841 ; m. Miss Mary 
Lichenwallner, Feb. 16, 1864; o. Vet. Surgeon; r. Ono, Fa. 
Served one year during the Civil War as a member of Co. 
F, Fourth Penn'a Cavalry. Was discharged in 1862. As 
he was in some big fights, I am sorry I did not have an op- 
portunity to interview him. Eight children : Walter S., 
John M., Henry, Minnie, Elizabeth, Ida, Laura, Annie. 

2. Aaron Gernert^, b. Oct. 12, 1842 ; m. Miss Mary E. Keim, 

of Grantville, Pa., Sept. 2, 1865 ; r. Lickdale, Pa. ; o. keep- 
ing hotel, farming, and dealing in cattle. Five children : 
i. Elmer H. G.^ b. July 25, 1867; d. Oct. 12, 1868. 
a. Grant E. G.^, b. Dec. 28, 1869; m. Ida Ulrich, Dec. 25, 
1890. 

Hi. Ellen B. G.^, b. March 24, 1871 ; m. William Sherk. She 
d. Jan. 18, 1893. 

iv. Sallie A. G.^, b. Dec. 7, 1873 ; m. Harry Raber, of Lick- 
dale, Pa., Nov. II, 1893. One son: Paul Stanley Ra- 
ber^. 

V. Grace T. G.^, b. Dec. 31, 1880; d. Jan. 4, 1893. 

3. Anna Maria Gernert*, b. Oct. 28, 1845 ; m. John Bom- 
gardner, Oct. 18, 1866; r. Palmyra, Pa. Eight children: 

i. Phoebe Rebecca B.^, b. July 24, 1867; m.^ Ramler, Sept. 

I, 1888. 
a. George Eugene B.^, b. June 26, 1869 ; m.^ Jan. 17, 1S93. 
Hi. John B.^, b. Jan. 20, 1872; m.x May 12, 1895. 



TJic GcniJiardt Family History. 195 



iv. Claudius Alouco B.^, b. April i. 1874; m.^ May 19, 1890. 
z'. Miles Abucr BJ\ b. April 11, 1877; m.x Fejj. 16, 1897. 
vi. Mary Elisabeth B}, b. Aug. 18, 1879. 
vii. Caroline May B}, b. Oct. 20, 1883. 
via. Anna Dora B}, b. Aug". 15, 1887. 

4. John Henry G.^, b. Nov. 16, 1847 ; d. young. 

5. Caroline Gernert^, b. May 18, 1849; m. Samuel Kreider, 

March 17, 1870; r. Ono, Lebanon County, Pa. Eleven 
children : 

i., a. Elmer K.^ and LilUe KJ', twins, b. Nov. 13, 1870 ; both 
d. in infancy. 

Hi. Clinton K.^, b. Feb. 8, 1872 ; m. Annie Fagen, April 19, 
1898; r. Lebanon, Pa. Children: Edna Caroline K.^, 
b. Oct. 7, 1899; Olive Sarah K.^^ b. Jan. 2, 1901. 

iv. Cora K.^, h. Dec. 31, 1873; m. Amos T. Ritter, Oct. i, 
1872 ; r. Jonestown, Pa. One daughter : Edna May R.^, 
b. June 23, 1895. 

V. Mary K.^, h. Aug. 16, 1876. 

vi. Harry K.^, b. Jan. 4, 1879. 

vii. John K.^, b. June 2, 1881. 

via. Morris K.^, h. Sept. 4, 1883 — d. Feb. 24, 1901. 

ix., X. Sallie K.^ and Edzvard K.^, twins, b. Dec. 11, 1886; 
Edward d. in infancy. 

xi. Mabel K.^, b. Nov. 11, 1890. 

6. Sarah Anna Catharine Gernert"*, b. April 5, 1852; m. 
Daniel K. Laudermilch, of Lebanon, Pa., April 18, 1872. 
Three children : 

i. Henry Gernert L.'\ b. June 25, 1873. 

a. Paid Raymond IJ\h. Sept. 11, 1877. 

Hi. Mabel Virginia L.^, b. Nov. 19, 1879. 

7. George Alfred Gernert-^, b. Aug. 26, 1856 ; m. Miss ]\Iary 
Ann Bishop, May 8, 1875; o. contractor; r. Lebanon, Pa. 
Four children : 

i. filbert George Garnerf", b. Aug. 25, 1876; m. Maggie R. 
Peifer, June 24, 1895. One daughter: Rebecca Ruth 
Garnert'5, b. March 13, 1900. 



196 The Gcrnliardt Family History. 

a. Phoebe R. Garnerfi, b. March 27, 1878; m. L. Long, 
Oct. 20, 1894. Child: Jenny^, b. March 25, 1895. 

Hi. Clara E. Garnerf", b. Oct. 17, 1881 ; m. C. M. Trox, Jan. 
24, 1898. Children: Albert Malon^, b. June 2, 1898; 
Hannah Susan^, b. June 24, 1900. 

iv. Cora Emma Ganic.rt^, b. Jan. 12, 1883. Deceased. 
8. Eliza Gernert-^, b. Dec. 25, i860; d. in childhood. 

IX. WILLIAM GERNERT3, b. Jan. 30, 1821 ; m. first, Eliz- 
abeth Gross, June 16, 1844; she d. Oct. 30, i860; m. second, Sa- 
loma Gross, May 27, 1862; o, harness-maker and farmer. Now- 
retired and living in Allentown, Pa. Twelve children — the same 
:number that his own parents had : 

1. Emena Catharine Gernerd*, b. Jan. 15, 1845 ; m. Charles 

Krauss, Nov. 16, 1866. She d. at Allentown, Pa., April 30, 
1896. No issue. 

2. Simon Franklin G.*, b. Aug. 19, 1846; d. June 16, 1851. 

3. Mary Ann G.^ b. Dec. 30, 1847; "^- Allen F. Stronninger, 
of Allentown, Pa., Sept. 8, 1879. No issue. 

4. James William Gernerd^, b. March 16, 1849 • i''"'- Cath- 

arine Miller, of Alburtis, Pa., July 30, 1871. He d. Feb. 25, 
1896. Was for many years Sunday School Superintendent, 
and Principal of the Alburtis public schools. His favorite 
pastime was the study of natural history, was a skilled tax- 
idermist, and had made a very fine collection of stuffed 
birds and small animals, birds' eggs and nests, minerals, 
etc. Died a Lutheran, but I remember his saying that too 
much account was still being made of some things in his 
church, not essential in religion. Seven children : 

i. Ernest William Gernerd^, b. Oct. 30, 1872; m. Miss Car- 
rie Sprout, of Muncy, Pa., Sept. 12, 1895; r. Williams- 
port, Pa. ; o. merchant tailor. One child : Alice Kath- 
ryn^, b. Oct. 26, 1901. 

ii. Carrie Elsie G.^, b. April 3, 1875 ; m. Orange Frantz. 
of Emaus, Pa., Nov. 2, 1895 ; d. May 18, 1898. One 
son: Charles Lovene Frantz^, b. Jan. 31, 1896. 

Hi. Gertrude Graee G.^, b. March 28, 1878. 




JAMKS W, (il'.KNKKDi, ALBIKTIS. I'A. 
1S49-1S96. 




NVILUAM (iEKNKRT!, AI.I.KXTdWN. V.\. 



TJic GcniJiai'dt Family History. 197 



iv. Irzvin James G.^, b. July 14, 1880; m. Bertha Siefert, 
July 26, 1902; r. Bethlehem, Pa.; o. ribbon weaver in a 
silk mill. 

V. Alma Victoria G.^, h. Oct. 15, 1883. 

z'i. Harry Martin Gf', b. Jan. 26, 1889; d. Aug. i, 1891. 

z'ii. Millie Florence G.^, h. June 2, 1891. 

5. Daniel Lewis G."*, b. Xov. 23, 1850; d. May 28, 1852. 

6. John Henry G.^, b. July 11, 1852; d. Aug. 23, 1853. 

7 . Milton Jon.as Gernerd"^, b. June 29, 1854; m. Sarah 
Smith, June 13, 1874; r. Allentown, Pa.; o. salesman. 
Children : 

/■. Ez'a Estella G.^, b. Oct. 20, 1875; d. July 13. 1899. 

//., ///'. .Anna Eliza G.° a}id Sallie Elizabeth GJ", twins, b. 
April 13, 1899. 

8. Ann Elizabeth G.'*, b. Oct. 14, 1855; m. William F. Fen- 

stermacher. Jan. 29, 1880; r. Coplay, Pa. Four children: 

i. Harry JVillis F.^, b. Sept. 7. 1881 ; d. July 29, 1890. 

//. Charles William F.^, b. Aug. 24, 1892. 

Hi. Robert Daniel F.^, b. March 12, 1894; d. Aug. 24, 1S94. 

iz'. Irzciii Franklin I'}, h. Aug. 13, 1896. [The portrait of 
Master Irwin F. F. in this history was made from a 
picture taken of him when he was still under four years 
of age. He then had his own conception of posing, of 
assuming an attitude to produce an effect, or to display 
his taste, and insisted that he would "fix" himself, re- 
marking as he did so, "I want to sit just as my papa sits 
when he is lazy." But his prosperous papa has too 
much energy to merit the stricture.] 

9. Ellen Fianna G.*, b. Jan. 6, 1857; "">• Jeremiah Klotz, of 
Allentown, Pa., Sept. 2-/, 1890. He d. April 29. 1896, and 
she d. Sept. 12, 1896; n. c. 

10. Sarah Jane G.^ b. Jan. 8, 1859; m. Henry W. Frcy, 
March 6, 1886; r. AJlentown, Pa. He d. July 4, 1891. 
Three children : 

i. Annie Edna Frey^, b. Dec. 20, 1886. 
a. Esther Sallie E. F.\ b. April 24, 1888. 
Hi. Helen Winifred F.\ h. Oct. 22. 18. h. 



198 The Gernhardt Family History. 

11. Charles Peter Gernerd*, b. Sept. 28, i860; m. Sarah 
Acquilla Sell, of Slatington, Pa., Aug. 29, 1885; r. Coplay, 
Pa. ; o. employed in cement works. Four children : George 
Peter G.^, b. April 27, 1886 ; Herbert William G.^, b. July 
5, 1887 ; Lizzie Sarah Ann G.^ b. Dec. 17, 1890; Helen Jane 
G.^ b. March 7, 1897— d. May 20, 1897. 

12. Magdalena Almaretta G.4, b. Jan. 5, 1864; daughter by 
second wife ; m. George Wieand, Sept. 19, 1885 ; r. Seigers- 
ville, Pa. ; n. c. 

X. JOHN GERNERT3, ^ j^q^. 7, 1822 ; m. Hannah Straub, 
Feb. 2^, 1845 ' o- farmer and cattle dealer. Lived all his life al- 
most within sight of his place of birth, at Breinigsville, Pa. His 
wife d. March 31, 1890. His daughter, Hannah, remained at home 
and kept house for him until his death, Dec. 2, 1900. Had eight 
children : . 

1. Milton Gernert^, b. Aug. 19, 1845 ; ^l- Oct. 11, 1856. This 

manly and handsome boy I remember well. His was a 
shocking death. While helping his father drive a herd of 
cattle to market he rode an immense and docile ox that 
was the leader of the drove. Thoughtlessly, and boylike, 
he tied the rope around his body, the other end of which 
was fastened to the horns of the trusted ox. The cattle 
took fright, and a sudden stampede was the result. The 
poor, trusting boy was thrown to the ground and dragged 
and trampled to death. 

2. Louisa Gernert^, b. Sept. 2, 1847 1 ^'^- Henry Scheridan, 

March 26, 1881 ; r. Breinigsville. Pa. Four children: 
Beulah^, b. Jan. 13, 1882 — d. in infancy; Willie Clarence^, 
b. March 20, 1883; Edna Louisa^, b. Jan. 18, 1884; War- 
ren John^, b. Nov. 17, 1889 — d. Feb. 11, 1890. 

3. Amelia Gernert"^, b. March 5, 1850; m. Edwin B. Schmoy- 

er, Feb. 20, 1883 ; r. Breinigsville, Pa. One son : John 
Thomas S.^ b. March 24, 1884. 

4. Maria Gernert^, b. Oct. 5, 1852 ; m. Henry Bloch, Jan. 13, 

1881 ; r. Reading, Pa. Four children : Frederick B.^, b. 
May 2, 1883 ; Herbert B.^, b. July 26, 1885 ; Hannah B.s, 
b. Oct. 15, 1887— deceased; Estella B.^, b. Feb. 23, 1889. 

5. Hannah Gernert*, b. April 19, 1856. 




JOHN (iKKNKKTi, lUU:iNIi.SVIl.l.K, I'A. 
1822- I 900. 



i 




I'.KX.iA.MiN gi;i;m;ki ■•, allkniowx pa. 



■ i 

I 






Tlic Gcrnliardt Family History. 199 

7. Albert Strauss Gernert-^, b. July 8, 1859; m. Annie Re- 

becca Muse, Sept. 24, 1885; r. Kutztown, Pa.; o. botel 
keeper. Children : Hannah Mabel", b. June 22, 1888 ; John 
Arthur^, b. April 16, 1890; Homer Albert^, b. Oct. 27, 1891 ; 
Warren Raymond^, b. Jan. 4, 1901. 

8. jNIorris Gernert^, b. Feb.' 6, 1864; m. r\liss Carrie Corner; 
r. Bellevue, Ohio ; o. merchant tailor. 

XL BENJAMIN GERMAN GERNERT^. b. July 30, 1825 ; 
m. first, Caroline Gackenbach, May 8, 1849; she d. June 22, 1862; 
m. second, Lucetta Sarah Eisenhart, Feb. 21, 1863; r. Allcntown, 
Pa. : o. stone mason. Five children : 

1. Catharine AIartiia Gernert^*, b. Sept. 2"/, 1849; '^- J''^"- 

3, 1869. 

2. Isabella Eleanor Gernert^, b. Oct. 30, 185 1 ; u\.'^ Leaser, 
January, 1873 ; d. September, 1890. One son : Harry Lea- 
ser^, b. Sept. 11, 1873. 

3. Selden Morris S. Gernert^, b. Ivlay 27, 1864; m. I'^llen C. 
Butz, March 22, 1892; r. Allentown, Pa.; o. machinist. 
When last heard of was in the employ of the Bethlehem 
Steel Co., running a 72-inch lathe and working on 12-inch 
guns for the government. This work requires an expert, 
as the steel is worked to the one-thousandth part of an inch. 
Has children: Naomi G.^, b. Aug. 29, 1895; Wilmer 
Lewis G.5, b. April 15, 1897. 

4. Addie Lora Manern'a Gernert*, b. March 28, 1871. 

5. Alvertie Cartiiagina Gernert"*, b. Sept. 5, 1873. Alvertie's 

days of this life were ended, Thursday evening, ]\ larch 2y, 
1902, by a most painful accident. When about to retire the 
evening before, she attempted to extinguish the light of a 
large kerosene hanging lamp, which, more than two-thirds 
full of oil exploded, instantly covering her with the fluitl 
and enveloping her in flames. Her mother, who was in the 
next room, rushed to her rescue, and desperately but vainly 
tried to extinguish the flames with a rug. Her sister Ad- 
die, who had gone up stairs, hearing the explosion and the 
cries of her sister, flew down the steps and at a glance com- 
prehended the situation, instanly grasped a strip of carpet 
and tried to help her mother. Her aged lather quickly fol- 



200 The GernJiardt Family History. 

lowed and ran to the hydrant for water. A neighbor hear- 
mg the cries of distress, leaped over the fence of the back 
yard and assisted in quenching the flames that were spread- 
ing all over the room, and tried to help alleviate poor Alver- 
tie's distress. But the unfortunate girl was frightfully and 
hopelessly burned. The family physician, instantly sum- 
moned, came in haste and did everything that could be done 
to relieve her, but the burned surface of her body was too 
large to admit of recuperation, and death came within 
twenty-four hours as the only possible relief from her in- 
tense sufferings. Alvertie was a bright, lovely and interest- 
ing girl, a graduate of the Allentown High School, and 
was a popular and aspiring teacher of one of the advanced 
primary schools of the city. She took a lively interest in 
this proposed Family History, was anxious to assist me as 
far as she was able, and wrote me several beautful and en- 
couraging letters, never dreaming that it would contain this 
record of her mournful and premature end. 

Xn. REUBEN GERNERT3, b. April 17, 1827; m. Eliza 
Hinkle, July 3, 1849. He d. July 27, 1875. She d. May 30. 1894. 
They kept the Central Hotel, at Easton, Pa., for a period of three 
years, and finding themselves well suited to the business of enter- 
taining the pubic, agreeably as well as profitably, they in 1872 pur- 
chased the "Cross Keys Hotel" in Allentown, a house that was 
very popular with the farmers of that section, and long had the 
greater share of their patronage, as well as a goodly share of the 
support of the traveling public. They were successful in their ven- 
ture, and though he was but forty-eight years old at the time of his 
death, he left the family in comfortable circumstances. The hotel 
was managed by his wife and children with continued success 
until 1887. The children: 

1. Revere Gernert*, b. Aug. 3, 1850; m. Mary Schmoyer, 

Dec. 7, 1889 : n. c. ; r. Allentown, Pa. 

2. Emma C. Gernert'', b. Aug. 24, 1852. 

3. Alice Amanda G.^, b. Sept. 2t,, 1854; m. Abraham Stuck- 

ert, Nov. 2, 1876. She died March 12, 1903, of an attack 
of heart sickness, occurring on the streets of Allentown, 
while on her way home from making calls on her brothers. 




REUBEN GERNERT!, Al.I.KNTi iW X. PA. 

1827-1875. 



The Gcnihardi I'aniily Ilisiory. 201 

who reside a number of squares from her residence. She 
was near the office of her physician, and called to some per- 
sons she saw to ring the Doctor's bell. She was immediately 
taken to the office, but all the efforts to resuscitate her prov- 
ed of no avail, and she soon ceased to breathe. Had two 
children : 

i. Eiiiilv SfiickcrP, h. Aug. 23, 1877; ni. liarr\- W. Kress, 
Oct' 18, 1898. 

a. Benjamin H. Stuckcrfi, b. March 12, 1879. Graduated 
in Dentistry from the University of Pennsylvania, June 
14, 1899. 

4. Oliver H. Gernert^ b. Nov. 20, 1863 ; m. Miss Laura 
Brown, of Reading, June 12, 1892. Is treasurer of the 
Lvric theatre, of Allentown, Pa. 



CATHARINE FOGELMAN BRANCH. 

Catharine and her twin sister, Margaret Litchard, were born 
February 18, 1783, and were therefore but twelve years old 
when Heinrich, in 1795, sold the Northampton County home, and 
were aged twenty-two when he, in 1805, bought the Sinking 
Spring property. She married Peter Fogelman in 1805, and some 
time afterward settled with him on a fertile and pleasantly located 
farm on the bank of the Susquehanna River, about two and (one- 
half miles west of the Springs. The Fogelman family had mi- 
grated from the same eastern section of the state a little earlier, 
and it is believed they and Heinrich's family had been acquaint- 
ances, possibly neighbors, before migrating to the Susquehanna 
Valley. Peter, in 1820, jicquired the title to the land on which he 
had settled. The place is now owned b\- two of his grandsons, 
Thomas and Simon, sons of John (3), both of whom were born 
years after their grandparents died, and have no personal recollec- 
tions of them and their day. 

The house in which Catharine and rotor li\od all the rest of 
their days, and where all their children w ere born, stood a num- 



202 The Gcrnhardt Fautily History. 



ber of rods from the bank of the river, and after standing there 
securely for more than a generation, ahhough for several years 
not any longer occupied as a dwelling, was swept away, and also 
the barn and all the outbuildings, by the great flood of March, 
1865 — the greatest and most destructive inundation to that time 
known to the inhabitants of the West Branch Valley of the Sus- 
quehanna. It is known as "Saint Patrick's Day Flood," because 
it occurred on that saint's 'day. For several days the weather had 
been quite warm, melting the large quantity of snow rapidly, and 
then came a very heavy rain, which suddenly converted the numer- 
ous tributary streams into torrents, and the river into a devastat- 
ing and terrifying deluge. Such a furious flood having never 
been known, the inhabitants along the river could not realize their 
danger until it was too late, or much more of their personal effects 
might have been saved. The highest known of the previous floods 
was the freshet of 1847, which was a number of feet lower. The 
large brick house now on the farm was built in i860 by John 
Fogelman (3), and was also, therefore, in the track of the great 
inundation of '65, but of this more by and by. 

Catharine Fogelman died September 3, 1840. and Peter followed 
and was laid beside her in the Delaware Run churchyard, October 
31, 1848. In the accompanying illustration of the church and 
yard the tallest rounded-top headstone near the horse shed marks 
his grave, and the first or next low stone between him and the 
cliurch indicates the resting place of Catharine. Here they rest in 
undisturbed repose, neither rejoicing nor grieving with their pos- 
terity and kindred in their life-struggles, while waiting for that 
summons which the Prophet declares all in tlieir graves shall hear, 
and then shall come forth. They had five children. The children 
have in turn become the heads of numerous families, many of 
whom still live near, or within a day's drive of the old Heinrich 
and Fogelman homes. Though not the largest branch of the 
Gernhardt Family, yet one of Catharine's descendants, writing 
from Iowa, said : "Gernerd, if you succeed in getting the names 
and records of all the Fogelman's, you will have a big book." 
The following record of the Fogelman subdivision probably in- 



Tlic Gcnihanit I'aiiiily Ilislory. 203 



eludes nearly all — some late additions may not be reported — and 
comprises 5 children, 41 .grandchildren, 126 great-grandchildren, 
59 great-great-grandchildren, and 8 great-great-great-grandchil- 
dren, making a grand total of 239 souls — to which the consorts 
of the married are, of course, yet to be added : 

I. MARY FOGELMAX3, b. April 8, 1806; m. Henry hos- 
teller, of Monroe County, Pa., in 1837, ^^'^^ soon thereafter settled 
on a farm at Quaker Hill, in Eldred Township, Lycoming Coun- 
ty, Pa. Henry cleared most of the land, and did a great deal of 
w'eaving in connection with farming. The conveniences of farm- 
ing and adjuncts of domestic life upwards of sixty years ago were 
still few and simple compared with our day. He became one of 
the most prosperous farmers in his township. She died April 3, 
1852, and he survived her until May 27, 1886. Had, eight chil- 
dren : 

I. Jacob Fogelmax^, b. March 7, 1831 ; m. Miss Phoebe 
Matthas, March, 1851 ; she d. in October, 1903; r. Eldred 
Township ; o. grain thresher for nearly forty }'ears, tirst 
with the old lever-power, then treadle-power, and in later 
years with a steam thresher. Has six children, ten grand- 
children, and at this date has more great-grandchildren, 
representing the seventh generation of Heinrich Gern- 
hardt's descendants, than any member of the family, as fol- 
lows : 

2'. Hiram IVashington Foi^cIiiian^,b. Jan. 17, 1852; m. Miss 
Carrie E. Campbell, Tan. 28, 1873; r. Eldred Township. 
Had : 

a. Ilatfie F.^, b. Oct. 30, 1873 ; m. Daniel Newcomer, Dec. 

23, 1890; r. Eldred Township. Seven children — of the 
seventh generation: Edward, b. Oct. 2, 1891 ; Arthur, 
b. April 7, 1893: Myrtle, b. June 6, 1895 — d. Sept. 10, 
1896; (;ien,. b. bet. 4. 1896; Pearl, b. March 11. i8()8; 
Ochen, b. Dec. i, 1899; Anson Lee, b. Dec. i, 1902. 

b. Lcttie E. F^, b. July 24. 1876. 

c. Harry C. F.*^, h. Sept. 22, 1889. 

d. Lcc FS\ b. July 14, 1893. 

a. Catharine Foi^clnuvi''. b. May 5. 1833: m. .\. II. Sn\-der. 
in 1875 ; r. Williams])! irt. Pa. 



204 The Gcvnliardt Family History. 

Hi. IVilliain Henry Fogeliiiaii^, b. Oct. 20, 1856; m. Miss 
Clara Belle Southard, March 3, 1881 ; r. Loyalsock 
Township, Lycoming County, Pa. ; o. farmer and 
butcher. Four children : 

a. Cora May F.^, h. April 4, 1882 ; m. Asher Willson, Dec. 

12, 1901. One daughter: Teresa Helen W.'^, b. May 
I, 1903. 

b. Neva Pearl F.% b. March 21, 1886. 

c. Frank Southard F.^, b. July 20, 1888. 

d. Arthur James F.^,h. April 15, 1890. 

iv. Sarah Jane F.^, h. Nov. 22, 1858; m. James Winder; r, 
Williamsport, Pa. ; n. c. 

V. Harriet E. F.^, h. Feb. 8, i860; m. John Lentz ; she d. 
at Warrensville, Pa. One daughter : Phoebe Lentz**, b. 
January, 1882. 

vi. Franklin Fogleinan°, b. ]\Iarch 14, 1867; d. Sept. 7, 
1867. 

2. Sarah Jane Mosteller-*, b. March 8, 1838 ; d. single, July 

II, 1858. 

3. Joshua David Mosteller^, b. Jan. 4, 1841 ; m. Miss Eliza- 
beth Wilkerson, Jan. 10, 1862. He d. Sept. 28, 1881. 
Were parents of five children : 

i. Clara IV. AL^, b. June 20, 1862; m. George Louden- 
slager, March i, 1887; r. Williamsport, Pa. Six chil- 
dren: Alvin Oscar L.*^, b. Jan. 10, 1888; Joy Emerson 
L.6, b. Oct. 14, 1890; Flossie Belle L.^, b. Aug. 9, 1892; 
Minnie May L.^, b. Nov. 26, 1894; H. Leroy L.^, b. 
May 13, 1899; Larry Royal L.^, b. Feb. 16, 1901. 

a. Herman IV. Mostellcr^,h. May 7, 1867; m. Miss Martha 
Agnes Bretzman, Sept. 2, 1886; r. Williamsport, Pa. 
Two children: Jesse M.^ b. Aug. 18, 1887; Harry 
Raymond M.^, b. Dec. 3, 1890. 

Hi. Anna Matilda M.^, b. Oct. 11, 1871 ; m. James South- 
erland ; r. Germantown, Pa. 

iv. Oscar John Mosteller^, b. Dec. 6, 1872 ; m. Clara Selt- 
zer, June 27, 1899; r. Williamsport, Pa. One daugh- 
ter: Esther Elizabeth'^, b. April 13, 1903. 

V. Estella EfRe M.^ b. Dec. 2^, 1874. 




KKNKST w. (ii;KNi:i;i»\ \villia.msi'()i;t, pa. 



TIic Goii/iardf Family Ifisloi'x. 20" 



4. William H. jMosteller'*, b. March 27, 1842; m. Miss Al- 

mira Palmer, Feb. 14, 1864; r. on Mill Creek, about two 
miles above Montoursville, Pa., on a farm he bought in 
1 87 1, after having lived the first seven years of his ma'"ried 
life on the farm with his father, in Eldred Township. Is 
a Democrat, and has taken some interest in politics, and 
also in township alTairs, and has served a number of terms 
as school director. Is parent of four children : 

i. Savillah A. MJ', b. Oct. 1 1, 1864 ; m. Ellis Loudcnslager, 
Jan. 20, 1886. He d. Oct. 14, 1896. One son: Wil- 
liam Franklin L.^, b. Jan. 13, 1887. 

a. J. Frank MostcUcr', b. Jul}- 23, 1870. Is farming for his 
father. 

Hi. George A. Mostcllcr^, b. Nov. 24, 1873 ; m. Jennie E. 
Newcomer, Oct. 27, 1897; r. Port Allegheny. McKean 
County, Pa. Has two children : Chester O. M.*^, b. 
Feb. 9, 1899; Rhea ^Myra M.^ b. ]\Iay 23, 1902. 

iv. Peter B. Mosteller'", b. Feb. 28, 1880; d. Sept. 26, 1880. 

5. Peter Franklin Mosteller'*, b. July 9, 1845 ; d. Oct. 20, 

1868; unm. 

6. Mary Catharine Mosteller^, b. June 29, 1846 ; m. George 

Dangle. He served during the Civil War as a member of 
Co. C, 149th Reg't P. V. Infantry, and died March 6, 1897; 
r. Eldred Township. Six children : 

i. Jo /in H. M OS feller^, b. ]\Iarch 10, 1865 ; m. May O'Brien, 
Dec. 25, 1888 ; r. Blackie, Buchanan County, Va. Two 
children: Roy M.^ b. Jan. 13. 1889: Fay M.^, b. Aug. 
23, 1892. 

a. Charles Thomas Mosteller°\ m. ]\Irs. Mame Hays, 
July'^, 1903 ; r. Williamsport, Pa. 

///". Flarry F. Dangle^, b. July i, 1877; m. Miss Lillie 
Sw^artz, Dec. 15. 1899; r. Eldred Township. Helping 
his mother on the farm. Two children : Rebcrta D.^, 
b. Feb. 6, 1901 ; Edna :\Iay D.^. b. May 5, 1903. 

iv. Hiram P. Dangle^, b. Aug. 11, 1879. 

V. William G. Dangle^, b. Nov. 19. 1883. 

vi. Elsie M. Dangle-\ h. Nov. 2^. 1887. 



2o6 The Gerii/iardt Family History. 

It is rare that any one admires snakes and makes pets of them, 
as people admire birds and have bird-pets. Most people regard 
snakes with decided horror and aversion, as being only vicious, 
ugly, dangerous things. To some they are repulsively fascinating. 
That is, some agree that they are beautiful, yet also detest them, 
and always tn,' to kill them if they can. The above named Hiram 
P. Dangle, son of Catharine Dangle, is an exception, the only 
one we believe of the numerous descendants of Heinrich and Ro- 
sine, and so far as we know the only one in a great section of 
the country. When a boy he seemed really to loz'c snakes, thought 
they were beautiful creatures, would rather pick them up than 
kill them, had a passion for holding them in his hands, stroking 
them, carrying them about in his pockets, and for years had a lot 
of them for pets. At one time, when seventeen years old, he had 
a collection of twenty-three "tamed" snakes, representing seven 
different indigenous species, namely. Viper, Milk, Garter, Water, 
Black, Rattle and Copperhead. They were at that time of more 
interest to him than birds, as we learned from him and his mother, 
and from persons who from time to time saw him play with the un- 
canny things. It appears to have been more to him than a mere 
barren freak, however, as in the inquisitive spirit of a naturalist 
he found great delight in the study of their habits and dispositions, 
and also had the curiosity to dissect some to learn something of 
their internal anatomy, and to make various experiments. He and 
his snakes for a time attracted a great deal of attention, many peo- 
ple visiting his home to see him handle the uncommon pets. He 
took delight in exhibiting them, and telling people what he knew 
about them. Williamsport Grit, the most extensivel}- circulated 
newspaper published in Northern Pennsylvania, sent a reporter to 
interview him, and published a long article about him, which at 
once made him famous. 

Some people in his neighborhood insisted that he drugged his 
venomous snakes ; others declared that he extracted their danger- 
ous fangs before he trifled with them ; and some even believed 
that he was a veritable Snake Charmer, possessed of some rare, in- 
herent power ; of which insinuations he did not want to hear, affirm- 



The Gcniiiardt Family History. 207 

ing that none of these things were true. He never but once remov- 
ed a fang from a snake's mouth, and then merely for experiment. 
He had read that if the fangs were removed, tliat new* ones would 
develop in their place. To test the matter for himself he captured 
a small copperhead that he did not want in his collection and pull- 
ed out one of its deadl}- fangs, which was as shaj-p as the finest 
needle, and true enough, in less than three months a new weaponi 
of defense had grown in its place. He says that his power over 
snakes w^as not a secret, nor a special function, but lay wdiolly in 
the study of their disposition, in his caution, the influence of kind- 
ness, and gentle handling, never exciting their fear or anger, and 
largely in not having any fear himself. Anybody can handle 
snakes with safety if as careful and fearless as he always was. 
The first impulse of all the wild snakes of this region of country, 
he says, is to get away from you, or to lay perfectly still and let 
you get away from them, and if one attempts to bite it is from 
fear and in self-defense. A snake, especially when a captive, can 
soon be made sensible of kindness. And like a horse, or dog, or 
perhaps any known animal, a snake will soon instinctively under- 
stand when a person is afraid of it. 

Once while handling a copperhead Hiram was bitten on his 
right hand, but he instantly and vigorously commenced sucking 
the wound and spitting the blood from his mouth, and did not 
suffer from the bite. This was the only time he was ever bitten 
b}- a venomous snake, and this he is sure would not have happened 
had not a bystander irritated or frightened it l)y imprudently pok- 
ing a stick at it while he was handling it. .^nakes, he contends, 
are not without some power of observation, some measure of in- 
telligence, some understanding of their surroundings, though he 
does not rank them high in this respect. They are God's creations, 
and proofs of His wisdom and power, the same as all other ani- 
mals, and they have their rightful place among the innumerable 
creatures of which He said, "Let the earlli l)ring forth." \\'hile 
Hiram can say that they have, save in one instance, been t(^ him 
as harmless as dov^s, he has never found one as wise as the one 
that it is said beguiled a certain woman to eat of prohibited fruit 



2o8 Tlie Gem hard t Family History. 



and made her believe that she, too, would become wonderfully 
wise. 

Hiram's parents were greatly horrified by his anomalous affec- 
tion for snakes, and for some time tried to dissuade him from 
bringing the (to them) loathsome thin.gs home and making play- 
things of them. But after seeing the impunity with which he con- 
stantly fondled them, and the pleasure his strange fancy afforded 
him, they finally ceased to object, and let the boy have his way 
unhampered' — but they could never love snakes, and continued to 
keep out of the way whenever "the creeping things thai creepeth 
upon the earth" were in the way. By having unrestrained free- 
dom to pursue his study of provincial ophiology, he probably made 
greater progress and was the sooner satisfied with his experi- 
ments. He always had an eye open for snakes, and even made ex- 
cursions to the neighboring mountains to hunt for specimens. He 
liked big snakes. Whenever he found a snake that he wanted he 
closely observed its movements, and was soon able to determine 
by its behavior and motions whether it was in a dangerous mood 
for handling. When at all uncertain as to its temper he used a 
forked stick long enough so that the reptile could not reach him if 
it attempted to jump at him and bite, and pinned its head to the 
ground, then seized it by the neck with his hand and without further 
formality gently transferred it to his snake-box for transportation 
home. In some cases he would simply clutch Mr. Snake near the 
head with the thumb and forefinger, just as he would pick up a 
switch or cane, and with hardly any more fear. When in captiv- 
ity for a few days, and frequently visited, the most vicious of his 
snakes would allow him to take it up in his hands without mani- 
festing the slightest resentment or desire to escape. He would 
often carry the creepers about in his hands, on his arms, in his 
pockets, in his hat, and even would let them nestle under his shirt 
on his bosom. They appeared to like the touch and warmth of his 
body, and would at times cling to him almost like filaments of iron 
to a horse-shoe magnet. And he, too, liked the peculiar sensation 
of their smooth gliding along over his person, by the gentle motion 



Tlic Gcnihardi Family History. 209 

of their ribs and muscles, and the alternate action of the overlap- 
ping scales on the under side of their bodies. 

Hiram's pet snakes appeared to know him and like him. His 
mother remarked to me that she one day walked up almost against 
a couple of snake boxes that he had hung up side by side in the 
sun, on the garden fence, near the kitchen' — the open sides of the 
boxes were covered with strong wire screens, so she mustered 
courage to go up close — when the Rattlers began to rattle, and the 
other occupants raised their heads in threatening attitudes, so that 
she was alarmed and did not consume much time in jjettinsf awav. 
Hiram then walked up to them, and instantly every snake was 
pacified, and appeared glad that he came to them. He is sure 
that his pets knew him from the other members of the family, 
and therefore thattheycan learn to- distinguish people. If strangers 
came near when he was handling them they would cling tighter to 
him than usual, and sometimes, when in his ordinary dress, would 
even push their heads under his clothing, as if they then thought 
they were safe. 

When his fame spread and people came in groups to see 
him handle his serpentine pets, he made himself a suit of tights, 
leaving his neck and arms bare, as more suitable for giving exhi- 
bitions of his much commented on but never claimed power as a 
Snake Charmer. After he had his snakes "tamed" they never 
tried to escape from him. He gave them complete freedom, and 
had them lie on the ground all around him when performing with 
them out of doors. He never had a combat, or saw any signs of un- 
friendliness between his snakes when he had them together out 
of their dens. He kept the Rattlers, Copperheads and Black- 
snakes each in separate dens, however, but the Vipers, TNIilk- 
snakes and Garters always lived amicably together in one den. 
Before me, as I write these paragraphs, lies a photograph of our 
kinsman as he appeared in his improvised close-fitting costume, 
showing him seated on a cane-seated rocking chair, on a blanket 
spread on the lawn in front of his home, giving an exhibition to a 
group of visitors. In his right hand he holds up a fat Rattler, 



2IO The Gcnihardt Family History. 

the reptile with its head hanging down and looking complacently 
into his face ; a Milksnake more than a yard long lay gracefully 
stretched out, suspended over his uplifted left hand, and his larg- 
est and greatly prized Blowing Viper appears contentedly coiled 
around his bare neck. None of the bystanders stood up near 
enough to appear in the picture — having perhaps asked the pho- 
tographer to excuse them. Vipers he regarded as the most know- 
ing of all the snakes he handled, and after capturing them he 
could take hold of them sooner to fondle than any other species. 
The Rattlers he found the hardest to tame, and the most nervous 
and easily alarmed. Though the Milksnake is considered as a 
harmless reptile, — at least as not hurtful to man and other large 
animals, — it is about as vicious, Hiram says, and as ready to show 
fight as any snake found in Pennsylvania. But in his hands all 
were entirely tractable. A lady living several miles from the 
Dangle home informed me that at one of his exhibitions — always 
free — she saw him open his mouth wide and put the head of one 
of the ugliest of his pets in between his teeth, a sight she thought 
even more thrilling than the spectacle of a man putting his head 
between the jaws of a lion. 

Late one autumn Hiram lay by his aggregation of snakes for 
the season, then fifteen in number, in a box, and buried box and 
all in the garden for the winter. On a mild day in March he un- 
earthed the cage and had the satisfaction of finding all his pets in 
good condition, though naturally somewhat dormant, as he ex- 
pected. Thinking that the hotbed would be an admirable deposi- 
tory for his esteemed hibernators, he concluded to give them quar- 
ters there until the return of warm weather, but the place proved 
too hot, or stifling, and when he went to see how they were pros- 
pering he had the mortification to find that every one was a life- 
less corpse, and that he was no longer the owner of a living snake. 
The loss that grieved him most of all was that of his big and fa- 
vorite Blowing Viper, for which he said he would not have taken 
ten dollars. His dens were once more replenished, however, when 
warm weather enticed the snakes to delight in out door life again. 
But there were plenty of others just as good. 



The Ccnihardt family History. 211 

The snake has often been prononnced to be without an ecjual 
in the animal world for merciless destructiveness and cannibalism. 
Hiram does not entirely assent to this opinion. All carnivorous 
creatures, he urges, are by nature cruel and destructive to their 
prey. Even gentle Puss has no more tender feeling for a mouse 
or a bird than the despised snake. The Vulture does not pity the 
Lamb, nor has the Hawk the slightest compassion for its victims. 
Alligators, Crocodiles, Sharks, and many kinds of fish, are just as 
merciless and more destructive, and some are as cannibalistic — 
kind eating kind — as serpents. What commiseration has the 
hungry lion, "Man Eater," for his victim when he drags him 
from his hut to make a meal of him? Hiram makes no apology 
for snakes, but he claims they have their parallels, and many of 
them, and even their superiors as destructive gormandizers. One 
good square meal often satisfies a snake for one, two, and some- 
times even three weeks, while the shark is always hungry and 
greedy, and is incessantly destructive. There is hardly a verte- 
brate creature known that can fast as long as a snake, and that 
so often refuses to eat wdien in captivity. Hiram sometimes com- 
pelled his pets to eat by taking them in hand, one by one, forcing 
open their mouths and pushing food down their throats. It was 
no rare thing for a mouse, toad, or sparrow to be in the den with 
the snakes for days and even weeks before it w^as seized and 
swallowed. When fed enough at a meal they w^ould on an average 
eat only once every fifteen or twent}' days. .Vnd when they 
wished to eat, the Rattlers, \'ipcrs and Garters would voluntarily 
take the food from his hands. The Blacksnakes would also drink 
milk when he held it to them in a saucer. 

But Hiram, after a few seasons of satisfying experience, 
went entirely out of the snake business. It was but a boy-day 
fad, and lasted only until his curiosity was satisfied. He is intelli- 
gent, modest, and agreeable. At school he was regarded as a 
bright scholar. In drawing and penmanship he so excelled that 
his work won him the first honors at the County Teachers' In- 
stitute. He had taught school one term, and when T saw him at 
his home he had just made application for another school. He 



212 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

is now, at twenty-four, as fond of flowers as at seventeen he w^as 
partial to snakes, and has quite a botanical collection. He is also 
an expert amateur photographer, and has made an immense col- 
lection of beautiful and interesting pictures. He is always doing 
something, and appears to be handy at almost anything. When 
I visited his home I found him engaged laying a new floor on the 
veranda. His mother says he is as much of an adept in the 
kitchen and at cooking as anything. He is also a lover of music, 
and is a member of the Warrensville Cornet Band — first playing a 
horn, but of late a clarionet. 

7. Hiram Washington Mosteller*, b. Feb. 4, 1849; i''^- Miss 

Hannah Ann Mansel, of Eldred Township, July 27, 1871 ; 
r. Eldred Township. Owns and resides on the farm on 
which he was born^ and nearly all of which had been 
cleared by his father. He and his son, William H., who 
lives on a farm near by, buy up and butcher a great many 
cattle, and take the meat to the Williamsport market. Has 
four children : 

i. William Henry M.^, h. Jan. 14, 1872 ; m. Miss Saloma 
Philips ; r. near Quaker Hill, Eldred Township. Has 
three children: Rebecca*^, b. Feb. 28, 1897; Harold 
Mansel^ b. June 22, 1899; Margaret^, b. April 7, 1901. 

a. James Mansel M.^, b. April 18, 1876; m. Miss 

King; r. Williamsport, Pa. 

Hi. Harold George M.^, b. May 13, 1880, 

iv. Margaret Ellen M.^, b. Jan. 15, 1887. 

8. Hannah M.*, b. Dec. 4, 1850; m. Henry F. Loudenslager, 

Oct. 30, 1877 ! ^- o" ^ farm in Eldred Township. Two 
children : 

i. Hiram Clayton L.^, b. Oct. 24, 1878 ; m.x One son : 
Charles Henry L.^, b. Sept. 16, 1900. 

n. Myrtle Vesta L.^, b. Aug. i, 1883. 

H. JOHN FOGLEMAN3, b. July 4, 1809; m. Lydia Treon, 
daughter of Dr. George Treon, of Muncy, Pa., Feb. 14, 1837. 

Soon after his father's demise he bought the homestead. In 
i860 he built the large brick house now on the farm, a few rods 




CIIAKLICS II. I,i:VAN">, ALTooXA, I'A. 



Tlie Genihardt Fauiily History. 213 

farther back from the river than the family birthplace, and in 
1866 built the present barn. In the beginning of June, 1889, a 
greater flood, by four feet or more in height than the rise of '65 
occurred, reaching a number of feet above the first floor of the 
new house, carrjang away all the outbuildings and all the fences 
on the river flat, and ruining hundreds of bushels of corn. A tre- 
mendous downpour of rain, the most extraordinary ever known 
in the drainage basin of the West Branch of the Susquehanna 
River, in a short time changed the stream into a furious torrent, 
entailing immense loss to the inhabitants along its inundated 
banks' — a loss estimated at thirty millions of dollars. No one 
seemed to think it possible that a greater flood than that of '65 
could occur, so again many were deterred from making efiforts to 
save much of their movable property until the overpowering cur- 
rent was upon them. On the 21st of May, 1894, came another ex- 
traordinary flood, only twenty-eight inches lower at the Fogleman 
place than the inundation of '89, but yet two feet or more higher 
than the surprising rise of '65' and again doing great damage, 
and after its subsidence leaving its course a scene of desolation. 
The loss to the Foglemans was again heavy, among other things 
the complete destruction of a promising tobacco crop. According 
to meteorological records kept the total rainfall in May, '89, was 
less than in May, '94, but the downpour was greater during the 
short times in which it occurred. John died March 7, 1867. 
Lydia survived him until July 9, 1900, when she was laid beside 
him in the Delaware Run churchyard. She had remained on the 
farm with some of her children until her decease. "Mother Fo- 
gleman," as she was often called by her many friends, was a truly 
good woman, of strong common sense and judgment, and was 
in every way deserving of the high esteem in which she was held. 
John and she were the parents of eleven children : 

I. Henry Fogleman"*, b. April 3, 1838; m. Matilda Dorothea 
Shuman, June, 1878. Resides on the next farm below the 
Fogleman homestead. Four children : Joseph Edward^, 
b. March 19, 1880 ; William Treon^, b. Aug. 30, 1882 ; John 
Wilbert''', b. April 16, 1884; Norman Hcnrv^, b. Sept. 2, 
1886. 



214 TJic Genihardt Family History. 

.2. Caroline Fogleman^ b. Dec. lo, 1839; m.' Aaron Hilliard, 
Oct. 30, 1856; r. Watsontown, Pa. Eight children: 

i. Emma H.^, b. Nov. 21, 1857; m. Lewis Master, Oct. 5, 
1882; r. Neosho Falls, Woodson County, Kansas. Four 
children: Clara H.^, b. April 30, 1883; John Edwin'', 
b. Nov. 16, 1885; Chester Albright^, b. April, 1887; 
Matilda Blanche*^, b. Aug. 4, 1890. 

a. John L. H.^, h. Sept. 23, 1859. 

in. Edzvin Heller H.^, b. Nov. 2, 1861. 

iv. Mary Elisabeth H.^, b. Feb. 23, 1868. 

V. Henry F. H.^, h. April 6, 1871 ; m. Jennie L. Everett, 
Dec. 21, 1893; r. Emporium, Pa. Two children: Olive 
Caroline^, b. Oct. 11, 1894; Kathryn Verdilla^, b. June 
I, 1896. 

z'i. George Delhert H.^, h. March 9, 1873 ; m. Matie Low, 
of Emporium, Aug. 5, 1903. 

vii. Carrie S. H.^, h. June 22, 1877. 

via. Lydia Anne H.^, h. Jan. 4, 1883. 

3. Marietta Fogleman"*, b. Oct. 18, 1841 ; m. James M. Dun- 
bar, Nov. 13, 1877; r. Elimsport, Pa. One son: James 
ClayS, b. Oct. 17, 1881. 

4. John Fogleman'*, b. Dec. 20, 1843 ; m. Malinda Taylor, 

Aug. 25, 1866. He d. at \A^atsontown. Pa., Oct. 30, 1887. 
Two children : 

i. May Hepburn^, b. Nov. 30, 1868 ; d. Feb. 20, 1874. 

a. Annie L.^, b. March 22, 1870; m. Charles Tibbetts, of 
Penobscot County, Maine, Dec. 30, 1896; r. Baltimore, 
Md. One son: J. Nelson^, b. July i, 1902. 

5. Ephraim Fogleman'*, b. April 16, 1846; m. Agnes Koons, 
Jan. 24, 1874; r. Delaware Township; o. fanner. Seven 
children : 

i. Henry Vernon^, b. Oct. 24, 1875 ; m. Annie Leinbach, 
Feb. 14, 1899. Two children : Thelma Ray^, b. Oct. 2, 
1899; Glen W. F.6, b. May 18, 1901. 

ii. Fanny^, b. April 26, 1877; m. Lloyd Miller, Aug. 21, 
1902 ; r. Jersey Shore, Pa. One son : Nelson G. M.^, 
b. May 20, 1903. 




SIMi iN I'. I'lM.l.KMANi AMI \V 1 1 
DKWAKT, I'A. 



? 



I 

,1 



The GcrnJiardt Family History. 215 



Hi. Lydia^, b. Oct. 15, 1878. 

iv. Maud S.^, b. Alarch 19, 1880; m. Edwin J. Lilley. Feb. 
19, 1902. 

V. Mary Elisabeth^, b. April 18. 1882; m. Bert R. Entz, 

Dec. 24, 1903 ; r. Jersey Shore, Pa. 
vi. John Forrest^, b. April 5, 1885. 
vii. Guy Bozviiiaii^, h. June 6, 1887. 

6. George Fogleman^ b. May 8, 1848; d. in childhood. 

7. Emma Fogleman^ b. Oct. 2, 1849; ni. Henry Artman, 

Sept. 25, 1867. She d. Jan. 7. 1892. Had six children: 

/. Essic^, b. Feb. 4, 1870; d. July 25, 1902. 

//. Sarah^, b. Alay 26, 1872; m. W. A. Dietterich. July 11, 
1895 ; r. Philadalphia, Pa. 

Hi. Lydia^, b. May 4, 1874; m. David T. Koons, June 15, 
1895 ; r. Philadelphia, Pa. Five children. x 

iv. H. Clay^, b. April 29, 1876; m. Elizabeth Trump, Feb. 
14, 1901 ; r. Philadelphia, Pa. 

V. Boyd^, b. Dec. 20, 1878; r. ]\Iontgomerv, Pa. 

vi. Rachel^, b. July 13, 1884; r. Philadelphia, Pa. 

8. Thomas Fogleman'*, b. Jan. 3, 1852 ; unm. With Simon 

owns and lives on the homestead. 

9. Simon P. Fogleman*, b. Feb. 28, 1854; m. Anna Martha 
Hufifman, Dec. 18, 1901. He and Thomas remained on the 
homestead until their mother's death, after which they 
bought the place at public sale. 

10. Rachel Fogleman'*, b. Nov. 21, 1856: m. Thomas J, 
Hoffman, Dec. 16, 1889: r. less than a mile from the place 
of her birth. Two children : Lydia Matilda^, b. Aug. 22, 
1891 ; William Lloyd^, b. March 20, 1894. 

11. Lydia Fogleman^, b. Nov. 23, i860: d. Ai>ril 10, 1864. 

HI. ELTZABETFI FOGLEMANS b. Oct. 20. 1810: m. 
Joshua Harleman, Dec. 25, 1838; she d. June 5, 1878, and he d. 
June 28, 1898, at Oregon, 111. TTad four children: 

I. Joseph F.*, b. Oct. 11, 1839; m. T^lizabcth Docblcr, Dec. 
29, 1864 ; r. Holcomb, Ogle County, 111. : o. fanner : n. c. 



2i6 Tlic Gernhardt Family History. 

2. Mary C. Harleman*, b. Dec. 20, 1840; m. Robert Walker 

Sheadle, Feb. 21, 1861 ; r. Rochelle, 111. Two children: 

i. Walker Clarence^, b. Jan. i, 1862; d. Aug. 11, 1897. 

a. Arthur Burr^, b. Feb. 26, 1864; m.x Oct. 20, 1897. One 
child: Gertrude'^, b. Sept. 30, 1898. 

3. Lucy E. Harleman*, b. Nov. 21, 1842; m. Charles Hart, 
April 7, 1870. She d. Sept. 25, 1896, at Coin, Page County, 
Iowa. Two children: Josephine M.'', b. Dec. 29, 1874; 
Perley Ross^, b. Nov. 13, 1876. 

4. Davis Emerson Harleman*, b. Feb. 3, 1845 5 "^- Elizabeth 

Jones, Feb. 2, 1871 ; r. White Rock, Ogle County, 111. Five 
children : 

i. Rosaltha^, b. Dec. 8, 1874; m.x Hazleton, Aug. 19, 1896. 

n. Vernon Ellsworth^, b. March 9, 1877. 

Hi. Ernst^, h. Sept. 29, 1879. 

iv. Bessie Loretta^, b. Dec. 26, 1886. 

z'. Joseph Amerson^, b. May 11, 1889. 

IV. CATHARINE FOGLEMAN^, b. Nov. 8, 1814; m. first, 
John Washington Baker, Dec. 26, 1837; second, Daniel Freyx. 
Baker d. June 15, 1849, and she d. March 14, 1882. Resided in 
Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pa. Three children : 

1. Margaret Ann^ b. Jan. 17, 1840; d. April 27, 1847. 

2. Jeremiah E. Baker*, b. March i, 1841 ; m. Eliza Ham- 

mond Foresman, Jan. 27, 1874; r. Buffalo, N. Y. ; n. c. 

3. Charles Michael Baker'*, b. Sept. 5, 1844; m. Lizzie Cal- 

lahan in 1871 ; he d. at Williamsport, Pa., Jan. 11, 1876; 
n. c. 

Jeremiah E. Baker enlisted in the U. S. servce Aug. 8, 1862; 
served in Co. H, 131st Reg't. Pa. Vol. Infantry, and was mustered 
out with his company May 23, 1863. A few days after its organ- 
ization the 131st crossed over the Long Bridge at Washington — 
the famous bridge over which so many of the loyal and brave 
marched never to return — into Virginia, to confront the armies of 
treason and disunion. Our faithful relative soon began to see 
some of the dismal effects of war, as his regiment was at once en- 



The Gernhardt Family History. 2iy 



gaged in picket duty, and helped to check the stream of panic- 
stricken stragglers from the ill-fated fields of Hull Run and Chan- 
till v. As the Confederates were now moving to invade Maryland, 
the Third Brigade was ordered tb recross the Potomac, and, after 
exchanging its Austrian rifles for Springfield muskets at the Na- 
tional Arsenal, joined the Third Division of the Fifth Corps, and 
then hastened forward as part of the Army of the Potomac to meet 
the now' elated and greatly emboldened, but mourn full}' deluded, 
Army of Northern Virginia. After wearisome marches, meeting" 
many stragglers, and passing many worn out soldiers unable to keep 
up with their commands, the corps reached the battle-field of An- 
tietam, where it relieved the fatigued troops that the day before 
had so determinately and effectually checked the Confederate ad- 
vance, and here J. B. first saw the distressing picture of a fiercely 
contested battle-field, sometimes as trying to the undisciplined as 
to be engaged in actual battle. Field hospitals had been quickly 
improvised on all sides, where the disabled were having their 
wotmds dressed and their shattered limbs amputated The rebel 
dead were still unburied, as well as hundreds of dead horses, and 
the stench was beginning to be offensive The painful evidences 
of savage struggle and unsparing destruction were everywhere 
visible 

But there was no ordeal of veritable carnage here yet for the 
131st, as the next morning the baffled enem\' had fled. The regi- 
ment was then ordered into camp near SharpsDurg, and assigned 
to picket duty along the Potomac River. Flere for several weeks 
the boys had the usual experience of camp life, cleaning up quarters 
and moving tents for sanitary reasons, cleaning their guns for the 
inspection of arms, drilling to ac([uire martial efficiency, standing 
guard for order and security, getting orders now and then to be 
ready to march at a moment's notice, etc. The weather about 
this time was excessively hot, and man\' of the regiment were on 
the sick list. Every day had its excitement or diversion of some 
kind. Sometimes it was an observation balloon ascension, always 
an interesting sight. One day they got a large mail, and nearly 
every one had letters from the dear ones at home, some of which 



2i8 The Gernhardt Family History. 

were read many times over. Another day they were deeply inter- 
ested in heav}^ firing eighteen miles away, knowing that a brisk 
engagement was going on at Charlestown, and expecting to re- 
ceive orders at any moment to "fall in." Once a number of the 
boys "chipped in" and sent to Sharpsburg for flour and apples, 
and had Henry Harris, colored, the company cook, get them up an 
apple-dumpling dinner — about which one of the participants of 
vigorous digestion wrote in his diary, "I filled myself with dump- 
lings clean up to my ears." At last, on the 30th day of October, 
after having packed up half a dozen times, the brigade broke camp 
for good, and with much hearty cheering started back over the 
battle ground of Antietam, forward over hills and mountain, cross- 
ing the Potomac on a pontoon bridge, and on the evening of the 
31st, after marching twenty-five miles, encamped about five miles 
from Harper's Ferry. Once during the march that followed the 
wagon train was delayed by heavy rains and mud, depriving the 
boys of rations for two days and one night, and subjecting them 
to an involuntary fast that did not very much promote their piety. 

After various experiences during November and part of De- 
cember, as marching in dust, or in rain and mud — sleeping on the 
cold or wet ground, or on more or less crooked and sharp-edged 
Virginia worm-fence rails, when such a luxurious bed was obtain- 
able, as even fence rails became scarce where hostile armies 
tramped back and forth — being routed out of sound sleep by the 
sharp and inexorable command to "fall in," sometimes without 
rations, and no time to make a cup of cofifee — all trials against 
which a patriot is not supposed to demur even in a whisper — the 
Third Brigade, about four o'clock on the morning of December 
nth, broke camp and moved to the vicinity of the Rappahannock, 
not far from Fredericksburg, ready to participate in what proved 
to be one of the most desperate and futile struggles of the war. 
The heights around Fredericksburg formed a stronghold that 
blocked the way to the Confederate capital, and the whole loyal 
North and West kept up an incessant shout, "On to Richmond." 
For two days following there was a constant booming of heavy 
guns, no less than one hundred and seventy-nine cannon having 




JERl'.MIAH K. I'.AK];Ki, lUJl'lALO, X. Y. 



The Ccni/iai'dt family History. 219 

opened on the doomed town with shot and shell, the ohject being to 
drive out the sharpshooters, who interfered seriously with the 
crossing of the river. The concussions were so terrific as to make 
the solid earth tremble. On the 13th the brigades moved closer to 
the stirring scene, and for several hours lay in front of Chief Burn- 
side's headquarters, listening to the terrific artillery fire, the sharp 
rattle of the muskets, and watching the smoke ascending from the 
burning buildings. Again the imperative order to "fall in." The 
General in command in a few words said that the corps was the re- 
serve of the Army of the Potomac, and that its duty now was to 
cross the river and close the battle with a decisive victory. 

Early in the afternoon the 131st. with its associate regiments, 
cheerfully crossed on one of the pontoon bridges, marched 
through the now deserted town under a heav}- fire from the rebel 
batteries to a rise of ground along the road back of it, where, 
under shelter, the force waited until the line of battle was 
formed and all were ready for the grand assault. At the anxi- 
ously awaited word Forward, a prompt and resolute rush was 
made at a double-quick. But, sad to own, it was a useless and 
costly onset. About two hundred yards forward a line of Union 
troops lay prostrate on the ground, who had been severel}' re- 
pelled in a prior charge, and reaching this base the order to lie 
down likewise was by a general impulse obeyed, — the men had 
been hit about the head and shoulders ; two of Baker's comrades 
near him were shot in the mouth. — and while thus stretched out 
on the field commenced to fire upon the enemy, who was well 
protected behind a stone wall, and in consequence sufliered but 
little. The troops, when finally ordered, with one accord jumped 
to their feet and made another determined eft'ort to advance, keep- 
ing up a steady fire, and some of the men got within a hundred 
feet of the wall, but vain wa.s the struggle, as the whole height 
around the town was crowned with strongly manned forts and 
intrenchments, absolutely unassailable by a direct, open assault, 
and the attempt, in the opinion of all who participated, should not 
at that time have been luade. Besides the appalling fire from 
the forts and wall in front, a mtu-derous, rakiiiij- cross-fire came 



220 The Gernhardt Family History. 

from batteries perched on the crest of the semi-encircHng hill both 
on the right and on the left. It was to our army but a sickening 
field of slaughter. Nothing was accomplished by the splendid 
valor and the fearful sacrifice. Seeing the fearful loss and the 
utter hopelessness of the effort to drive or capture the enemy, the 
troops were withdrawn. Our kindred's company went into the 
fight with fifty-three men, of whom twenty-two were either killed 
or wounded. Four of these hapless ones lay and died close by 
him. To one he gave his canteen, and from him received a mes- 
sage to take home to his wife. About this time he was himself 
wounded near the elbow of his right arm, not seriously, but the 
hurt became very painful, though it did not prevent him from 
keeping his place in the line. 

One of the company, William Willits, who was struck by a 
ball near the shoulder, asked Baker to lead him off the field. 
Baker told him that he did not then dare to leave the company, 
but said that he should go to the rear and that he would soon find 
some one there to take care of him. He never saw that stricken 
comrade again. It was not until sunset that the 131st was relieved, 
yet the afternoon, with all its excitement and horrors, seemed to 
him strangely as if lasting but one short hour. All were too much 
absorbed to think of the time of day. The regiment rested at 
night on the field, and the next day was quartered on the streets 
of the town. On the evening of the 15th it took a position to the 
right to support a battery of artillery, and at three o'clock the next 
morning the town was quietly and willingly evacuated — as it was 
of no practical use tO' us with that stubborn rebel army back of it. 
The Confederates did terrible execution from behind their wall and 
intrenchments, but they were not just then anxious to follow up 
their successful resistance by risking a fight with such a valorous 
foe outside of their formidable works, and very obligingly let our 
troops have plenty of time to get away. 

Stephen Flick, one of the company, who was hit by a Minie 
ball in the mouth, was not seriously injured, though four of his 
teeth were knocked out, and, as Lieutenant De La Green, of Co. 
H, once informed me, "the ball knocked the boy head over heels." 



The Gernhardt Family History. 221 



The ball was of course almost spent, as it lodged in the roof of 
his mouth, and was quickly removed by himself. He carried it 
about for months as a precious pocket piece, often displaying it to 
his not envious comrades, and insisting that he was the only man 
in the regiment who could perform the wonderful feat of catch- 
ing a ball, shot from a gun, with his mouth. 

Baker was never again under so hot a fire as when in front 
of the heights of Fredericksburg, but he again saw some- 
thing of the perils and hardships of war. After a short 
rest in winter-quarters, Bumside decided to attempt an- 
other campaign, but after some da}'s of marching about 
in mud over shoe top, through rain and in chilling 
wunds, building corduroy roads and moving trains, the move- 
ment was wisely given up, and the 131st marched back into new 
and better quarters, about two miles from the old camp. On 
the 28th of April it set out under Hooker on the memorable 
Chancellorsville campaign, of which Baker says he will ever have 
very vivid recollections. The roadside on the way was lined 
with stragglers from the columns in advance. Now and then 
one of the weaker ones would sink down, worn out, and die. 
Pack mules and horses were in like manner overcome and were 
unloaded and left to perish. The regiment, about noon on Fri- 
day, May 1st, arrived at the Chancellor House, where Gen. Hooker, 
who had succeeded Burnside, had established his headquarters. 
Baker now heard heavy firing, and realized that another great 
battle was about to be fought, and that he would be in it. He 
was delighted to see a lot of prisoners, who were being hurriedly 
pushed to the rear, and hoped Lee's whole army would soon be 
in the same harmless predicament. He soon saw, however, that 
the Union forces were falling back, but persuaded himself that 
it was only to get a better position, or to draw the unfriendly 
Johnnies into a trap. The privates, and even the officers of com- 
panies and regiments, usually know little or nothing about the 
plan of battle, of the disposition and movements of the columns 
of a large army, that often cover many square miles of territory, 



222 The Gernhardt Family History. 

of which they have but a Hmited view. "Where ignorance is 
bhss, 'tis folly to be wase." 

Hooker, with an army twice as large as Gen. Lee's, started out 
confident of victory, and even issued an order of congratulation 
to his troops on the evening of April 30, in which he boastfully 
said, "Our enemy must ingloriously fly, or come out from behind 
his defenses and give us battle on our own ground, where certain 
destruction awaits him." Lee's army was then regarded as in a 
dangerous dilemma. Things were moving encouragingly for the 
Union army, and the men were eager for battle ; but suddenly 
Hooker became alarmed, and sent very positive orders for his ad- 
vanced columns to give up his "own ground" and fall back to 
Chancellorsville. He thus lost the advantage he had gained, dis- 
couraged his soldiers, and was compelled to fight in self-defense 
on the unfavorable ground of the Wilderness. It is a matter of 
history that all of Hooker's generals condemned his action. 
When referring to the service of the Donmoyer brothers, Lewis 
and Rudy, of the John Gernert branch of our family, one of the 
notable incidents of this great battle has already been mentioned. 
But the grievous result of the conflict is well known, and need not 
be rehearsed here. 

Baker's company was detailed as Headquarters Baggage 
Guard, but through forgetfulness or some mistake was not or- 
dered to the rear until a body of the rebels were within several 
hundred yards of the train, charging through the woods and yell- 
ing like so many demons. When they got into close range a gen- 
eral volley was poured into them that hurled them back, and pun- 
ished them severely for their daring. The train then passed on to 
the rear, but was somewhat impeded by the maneuvering of the 
infantry and artillery, and the thick woods through which it had 
to move for some distance. The mules often added to the trouble 
by being contrary and getting tangled up by trying to get around 
the trees in their own mulish way. On the 2d the company was 
ordered to the left where the division lay, and from which heavy 
firing was heard all day. About six o'clock the noise of battle in- 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 223 



creased, and was kept up all night, charg-e after charg-e being made 
by both sides with a reckless fury that was terrible. The very 
ground on which the boys stood again shook, as it did at I'"rcder- 
icksburg, from the fearful booming of the many cannon. CJ)n the 
3d they were ordered to cross the Rappahannock at United States 
Ford, while the battle was still raging, and camped a short distance 
from the river, in a clearing surrounded by pine woods, near the 
Union hospital, and where they had the gratification of seeing a 
body of 1,500 rebel prisoners under guard that had been taken 
during the night and morning. 

On the morning of the 4th Baker and his mess were rudely 
awakened by shells dropping and exploding around their camp. 
The first impression was that the Johnnies had got around in the 
rear, but it was soon ascertained that during the night they had 
sneaked up near enough through the woods to plant a battery of 
six guns within range, and at the dawn of day opened in a lively 
way on the camp and hospital. Five or six were killed and a 
number wounded, most of the casualties occurring in the hospital, 
but no one in Baker's company was injured. One shell fell 
among the prisoners, by which one of them lost a leg. A detach- 
ment of cavalry quartered close by immediately formed and 
charged and captured the battery, and stopped the annoyance. 

The great victory that Hooker promised was not won. The 
wide-awake enemy did not "ingloriously fly," and he did not meet 
with "certain destruction." He followed up Hooker and made 
////;/ fly. But it is just as undeniable that he was in the end him- 
self so worn and crippled that he was again satisfied to let the 
Army of the Potomac get away very easy to the left bank of the 
Rappahannock. He was manifestly thankful to be rid of su.ch an 
antagonistic visitor, and if in .order would doubtless have given 
him a free pass to recross the Potomac. Pic did not even trouble 
Hooker's rear guard, which got off as safe as the troops th;it 
crossed on the pontoons before it. The Union army had faith in 
the cause for which it fought, and had confidence in itself, and full 
assurance of its final triumph, but it had not yet found the right 
leader. It appreciated the valor, the loyalty, and the patriotism 



224 The GernJiardt Family History. 

of Pope, of Burnside, of Hooker, and of McClellan, but it did not 
believe that either of them had all the qualifications that make a 
great chief for a great army. 

Several weeks after this last fruitless struggle the time of the 
131st expired, and it received orders to go back to Harrisburg and 
be mustered out. Baker was at home only a few weeks when, in 
response to a call for volunteers to repel the rebel invasion of the 
North, he re-enlisted, and as a sergeant served in Co. E of the 37th 
Penn'a Vol. Militia. As I belonged to the same company, his 
part in the brief Gettysburg campaign may be known by turning 
back to the account given of my own slender war experience. 

V. PETER FOGLEMAN3, b. July. 11, 1820; m. first, Mary 
Ann Buck, in 1843; she d. July i, 1851, and is buried by the side 
of his parents in the old Delaware Run graveyard. He m. second, 
Hannah Buck, a sister of his first wife, March 16, 1852. Peter d. 
in Dubuque County, Iowa, Oct. i, 1881. Had fifteen children, 
and his is, therefore, the banner family of Heinrich's lineage : 

I. Daniel Wesley Fogleman*, b. Aug. 18, 1844; m. Mary 
Elizabeth Young, Sept. 13, 1865. She d. March 30, 1901. 
He now resides in Williamsport, Pa. Enlisted March 24, 
-1865, and served some months as a member of Co. K, 88th 
Reg't, Pa. Vol. Infantry. As the fighting ceased soon 
after he entered the service, he did not learn from experi- 
ence how vigorously the enemy fought in his mistaken and 
doomed cause. Had eight children : 

i Mary Almcratta^, b. April 2, 1867; m. Gabriel Miller, 
Aug. 9, 1894 ; r. Williamsport, Pa. Three children : 
Roscoe Albert M.^ b. March 12. 1895; Elwood Gabriel 
M.6, b. Nov. 28, 1900; Charles William M.^, b. Feb. 27, 
1903. 

a. Daniel Liidzuig^, b. March 16, 1869; d. Aug. 17, 1877. 

in. Minnie Allita^, b. July 28, 1871 ; m. George Donnel, 
Nt)v. 6, 1890; r. Mon tours ville, Pa. Six children: 
Raymond W.^ b. July 17, 1889; Edna Mary^, b. June 
13, 1891 ; Richard Childs^, b. March 19, 1893; George 
Edward^, b. Feb. 4, 1895; Marion Julia^ b. April 14, 
1897; Nellie Margaret^, b. June 2, 1902. 



The Gcnihardt fainily lllslory. 225 



iv. Lula Anna^, b. Jan. 7, 1874; d. Nov. 7, 1879. 

V. Harry Koscoc'\ b. Aug. 10, 1876; d. Sept. 3, 1876. 

vi. IVilliatii IVesley^, h. Oct. 10, 1877; m. Sadie Ickes, Feb. 
8, 1900. One daughter: Margaret Elizabeth*^, b. Nov. 
29, 1900. 

z'ii. Laura Elkr', b. June 13, 1880; m. George Duitch, Dec. 

29, 1897. Three children: Lula^, b. May 12, 1898; 
Bamard'\ b. Jan. 28, 1900; Margaret F.^, b. Nov. 29X. 

riii. Edith Pcarl^, b. Aug. 25, 1885. 

2. Hiram Augustus Fogleman'*, b. May 29, 1846; m. Bessie 

Viletta Smith, April 14, 1870; r. Creston, 111. Enlisted in 
the 88th Reg't, Pa. Vol. Infantry, at the same time his 
brother D. W. enlisted, and was honorably discharged at 
the same time. Three children : 

/. Einiiia Jaiic^, b. Oct. 24, 1870; m.>^ Bowles, April 

30. 1890; r. Creston, 111. One son: Chfford Val.^, b. 
Feb. 14, 1891. 

ii. William Herbert^, b. March 22, 1876. 

//7. Alma Mclvina^, b. May 29, 1878; m.x — ■, — Blackmore, 
June 21, 1899; r. Creston, 111. One daughter: Bessie 
Genevieve*", b. May 2^, 1900. 

3. Elmira Fogleman*, b. July 18, 1843 • ii""- Tillman Stadler, 

Jan. 12, 1867; r. Millville, Columbia County, Pa. Two 
children : 

i. Ada^, b. Oct. 11, 1867; m. H. J. Shoemaker, July 23, 
1895 ; r. jMillville, Pa. One daughter : Eva*', b. March 

3, 1897- 
ii. Frank^, h. Dec. 15, 1868; m. Elizabeth Watts, Dec. 25, 
1890; r. Millville, Pa. Two children: Zella^. b. May 
29, 1891 ; Mary^, b. April 12, 1893. 

4. John Calvin Fogleman^, d. in childhood, March 20. 1866. 

5. William Franklin Fogleman^, b. December, 1850; d. 

July 28, 1 85 1. 

6. Melvin.v C. Fogleman'^. b. Dec. 12. 1852: \u. jdlin L\;nan 

Reed; r. Oregon, 111. Two children: Beulah^, b. Oct. 22, 
1884; Wilbur-', 1). Sept. 19. 1886. 



226 The Gernhardt Family History. 

y. David Emerson Fogleman"*, b. Dec. 12, 1853; m. Laura 
Jane Thayer, Nov. 8, 1874; r. Riverside, California. Five 
children : 

i. Alice Mae^, b. May 13, 1875; "i- Guy W. Finney, Sept. 
6, 1893; r. Montour, Tama County, Iowa. He served 
one year in the Spanish- American War. Two boys : 
Merril Johnson^, b. Sept. 9, 1896 ; Max Rodney^, b. Aug. 
26, 1900. 

a. Frank Andretvs^, b. March 3, 1877; m. Allie Mabel 
Leeds, Feb. 2, 1898 ; r. Cherokee, Iowa. Four children : 
Lester Luverne^, b. Nov. 12, 1898; Blanche Grace^, b. 
Nov. 8, 1899; Dorothy Mildred*', b. April 29, 1901 ; 
Harold Vernon^, b. Feb. 21, 1903. 

Hi. Lcroy Milton^, b. March 26, 1879. 

iv. Glen Oliver^, b. Nov. 16, 1885. 

V. Blanche Edna^, b. June 8, 1893 ; d. Sept. 20, 1894. 

8. Wilson Jefferson Fogleman^, b. June 18, 1855 ; m. first, 
Susanna Rebecca Gearhart, Nov. 8, 1877; she d. Aug. 30, 
1884; second. Charity M. Zarr, Jan. 20, 1886; r. Washta, 
Cherokee County, Iowa. Five children : 

t. Jennie Willuia^, b. Aug. 6, 1878; m. Raymond B. Fer- 
guson, Dec. 31, 1900. 

ii. Arden Carson^, b. March 3, 1880. 

Hi. Odessa Rebecca^, b. April 14, 1882. 

iv. Lauras', b. March 26, 1890. 

V. Thelma Arlene^, b.^March 19, 1899. 

9. Alma J. Fogleman^, b. Nov. 17, 1856; m. WilHam Hol- 

land, Sept. 15, 1880; r. KeKalp, 111. One son: Glenn^, b. 
April, 1881. 

10. Lydia Minerva Fogleman^, b. Feb. 16, 1859; ""i- Lewis 
E. Board, March 12, 1885 ; r. Dubuque, Iowa. Four chil- 
dren : Artley K.^, b. Aug. 29, 1887 ; Ray E.^, b. Feb. 7, 
1889 ; Erma^, b. March 6, 1893 ; Lisle E.^, b. July 25, 1893. 

11. Charles E. Fogleman*, b. Aug. 3, i860; m. Mary Alice 
Zarr, Feb. 12, 1884; r. Washta, Iowa. Three daughters: 
Ethel MaeS, b. May 3, 1885 ; Lulu Mabel^, b. June 19, 1886 ; 
Jessie Belle^, b. March 23, 1890. 




])AVTS K. KodKI.MANi, IM VEi:si I lE. CAI., 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 227 



12. Rebecca Ellen Fogleman*, b. June 5, 1862; unm. ; r. 
Oregon, 111. 

13. Peter Elmer Fogleman'*, b. Sept. 8, 1863; m. first, Ida 
M. Crouch ; second, Burnice Tilton ; r. Cherokee, Iowa. 
Four sons: Purl^. b. Dec. 31, 1887; Harry^, and Harlow'', 
twins, b. July 27, 1898; Claud Elmer^, b. July 26, 1900. 

14. Emma C. Fogleman'^, b. March 22, 1867; m. Thomas 
Becker, June 17, 1887; r. Oregon, Ogle County, 111. Three 
children: Mabel^, b. March, 1889; Edna M.^, b. July, 
1890; Elwood H.^, b. September, 1900. 

15. O. Frank Fogleman^, b. April 9, 1870; m. Sarah Strief, 
June 30, 1891 ; r. Marcus, Cherokee County, Iowa. Six chil- 
dren : Emma^, b. March 30, 1892 ; Libbie M.^, b. June 10, 
1894 ; Letta M.^, b. March 6, 1896 ; Oliver F.^, b. September, 
1898; Amos E.^, b. Aug. 19, 1900; Ernest W.^, b. Dec. 30, 
1902. 



MARGARET LITCHARD BRANCH. 

Margaret (twin sister of Catharine Fogleman) and John 
Litchard, of Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, Pa., 
united in the bonds of wedlock soon after the purchase of the 
Sinking Springs property by her father, Heinrich, or about 1806 or 
1807. She died June 12, 1836. According to the inscription on 
her tombstone in the town of Sparta, N. Y., she was *'aged 55 
years," but this is clearly an error. She and her twin sister, Cath- 
arine, were born February 18, 1783 — two years and four months 
after their brother John, and two years and six months before 
the birth of Baltzer — so that at her demise she was but 53 years 
and four months old. Her husband, John, died June 18, 1867, in 
his 79th year. 

John Litchard was the youngest of the three sons of Joseph 
Litchard, an Englishman by birth, who was one of the early set- 
tlers of Lycoming County. He (Joseph) came to America when 
quite young, and to pay his transportation indentured himself into 
the service of a German family in Berks County, Pa., where he 



228 The Gernhardt Family History. 



learned to speak German, and when the term of his service ex- 
pired he married a German girl. As he and his wife, with their 
first child, came to Miincy Valley with the pioneer, Henry Shoe- 
maker, a settler from Berks Connty, who had emigrated from Ger- 
many sometime before the Revolution, it has been surmised that 
they may have come here before the Indian troubles of 1778 and 
1779, as Shoemaker had settled, and bought the grist mill, on 
Muncy Creek, of John Alward — the first grist mill erected on the 
West Branch of the Susquehanna River west of the Muncy Hills — 
just prior to that eventful and calamitous era. When it was 
learned from some friendly Indians (notable among whom was 
the faithful Job Chilloway) that the blood-thirsty savages were 
preparing to raid the valley and murder, scalp, pillage and burn, 
the mill gearings were buried and thus saved, but the building was 
burned by the ruthless red men. The valley was soon deserted 
by the frightened white settlers. 

Several years later most of the stampeded inhabitants returned 
to the valley, however, and many new settlers came with them, or 
soon after followed. After General Sullivan's memorable cam- 
paign, with one-third of General Washington's army, into the 
country of the Six Nations in western New York, in the summer 
of 1779, destroying their villages, crops and orchards, and punish- 
ing them severely for the outrages they had perpetrated on the 
defenseless inhabitants along the frontiers, there was no further 
serious trouble with them on the West Branch of the Susquehanna. 
It is more likely, therefore, we think, that Joseph, with his wife 
and their infant son, Joseph, came with Henry Shoemaker when 
he returned to his landed possessions in the month of May, 1783,— 
James, the second son of Joseph, who died in 1875 at the age of 
90, was born in 1784 or '85, — moving with wagons from their 
homes to Harrisburg, and proceeding thence by canoes up the 
Susquehanna to Muncy. Joseph continued in the service of his_ 
friend Shoemaker, felling trees and raising crops on the land 
around his new grist and saw mill, for about ten years. Having 
now a family of four children to provide for, (one a daughter, 
Fanny,) he wisely concluded that he ought to have land and a 



The GcvnJiardt Family History. 229 



home of his own. Shoemaker had Ijought up several thousand 
acres of the recently patented lands, and now — about 1793 — sold 
Joseph a 400 acre tract of wild land on the INIuncy Hills, about 
four miles south-east from the grist mill, for wdiat now seems the 
paltry sum of $50, or 12 1-2 cents per acre. 

Joseph commenced at the bottom round to ascend the ladder 
of fortune and independence. He had but little besides the virgin 
soil, the trees, some springs of good water, pure air, sunlight, and 
such blessings as nature in that primitive wilderness could fur- 
nish. There was no road to the land, so thev had to grope their 
way through the woods and over the rolling ground as best they 
could. During the first year there was not a human habitation 
within several miles. Joseph selected a spot for a rude shanty, 
and there he lived with his family on the "ground floor," until he 
could at his convenience construct a log cabin. Joseph junior, 
the eldest of his boys, became the chief hunter of the family, and 
often replenished the family larder with venison and bear meat. 
The fat of the bears and raccoons was made use of for shortening 
and to fry doughnuts. The conditions of life were much the 
same as already described when Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt 
commenced their struggle for the blessings of existence in the 
forest of Northampton County. The howling of hungry wolves 
w'as one of the most familiar of the forest sounds. Once when 
the old folks had gone from home the children were so alarmed 
l)y their yelping that they crawled up on the roof of the cabin for 
fear that the uncanny beasts would come and eat them up. Wild 
turkeys were so numerous and bold that they sometimes had to be 
driven away from the clearings, just as chickens are now often 
expelled from our gardens. 

The principal part of the Litchard tract is now^ owned and occu- 
pied by a grandson of Joseph, Jacob Litchard, a prosperous and 
greatly respected citizen, owner of three good farms, who was 
next to the yc^ungest of the twelve children of James. His almost 
exceptional vigor at the age of 71 augurs that he may live to be 
a nonagenarian, like his father ; and as he has sons and grandsons, 



230 The Gernliardt Family History. 

the native place may remain in the family name many years 
longer. Joseph died about 1838, and, like his son, and Abraham 
of old, was "buried in a good old age." He and his wife were 
interred in the graveyard of the Old Immanual Lutheran Church, 
the land for which was donated by Henry Shoemaker, and is 
about half a mile from the site of the old grist and saw mill. 

It was here, and under these primitive conditions, that John 
Litchard grew up into manhood ; and it was here on a tract of land 
adjoining the 400 acres, as Jacob recently informed me, that John 
and Aunt Margaret (Gernhardt), about 1807, commenced their 
married life, a period of which but little is now remembered. How 
many facts and incidents of interest were consigned to the graves 
of our kindred of the second generation can not even be conjec- 
tured. From the Muncy Hills John and Margaret moved and 
dwelt for some years on a farm about one mile east of Muncy, 
then a hamlet known as Pennsboro. The six eldest of their ten 
children — William, David, John, George, Elizabeth and Mary — 
were all born in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming County, the 
first named December 8, 1808, and Mary on the i8th day of April, 
18 18. It was while Mary was a babe that Margaret and her fam- 
ily migrated to the town of Sparta, N. Y., and settled near her 
sister, Magdalena Shafer, on the second tract of land that her 
father, Heinrich, had bought, and which, according to his last will 
and testament, made in February, 1820, he bequeathed to her and 
designated as being the land "whereon John Litchard lives." 

Margaret's descendants, now comprising many widely scat- 
tered families, have for a number of years been having annual 
reunions, in Allegheny County, N. Y., and is, we believe, the first 
branch of the Gernhardt family to enjoy the satisfaction of such 
gatherings. Her children were : 

I. WILLIAM LITCHARD3, b. Dec. ,8, 1808; m. Harriet H. 
Smith, of Setauket, Long Island, in 1832. He d. at Green- 
port, L. I., Aug. 30, 1879. Had three children: 

I. John William Litchard^, b. Jan. 30, 1834; m. Mary Au- 
gusta Dickerson, Dec. 27, i860. He d. Jan. 2, 1897. Two 
children : 




liF.oKCK l.nciIAKDi— 1813-l>t02-KI"SIIF(>l;l'. \. V. 

lli)N. AI.MANZd l.l'l'( IIAKIM. MAirriN K. 1 .1 I'l 1 1 A K 1 1."' 

DoNAI.h i;. I.ITi llAKli". 



The Gcnihavdt Uauiily History. 231 



i. Williani M}, b. Oct. 5, 1861 ; m. ]\Iary G. Perkins, jMay 
9, 1888; r. Riverhead, L. I. Three children : Henry^, b. 
Feb. 4, 1890; Rcba^ b. Aug. 8, 1892 ; Christine*^, b. Dec. 
7. 1895. 

a. Myra Sinith^, b. Feb. ii, 1869. 

2. Elizabeth^, b. Nov. 9, 1835 ; m. Albert Watson Smith, 
Sept. 7, 1856; n. c. 

3. Harriet 'L}, b. Feb. 28, 1844; m. Theodore Downs, Feb. 
28, 1866; r. Riverhead, L. I. One daughter: Julia Anna^, 

b. May 4, 1869. 

IL DAVID^, b. Nov. 23, 1810; m. Lydia Tucker^ ; died in 
Sparta, Livingston County, N. Y., March 13, 1846. One 
son : Josiah'*. 

III. JOHN^, d. when about two years old. 

IV. GEORGE3, b. April 28, 1813; m. first, Nancy Buzzle, 
April 14, 1837; second, Elizabeth Miller, Dec. 26. 1858. 
Elizabeth, who still survives, was born Oct. 5, 1824 ; r. 
Canusaraga, N. Y. He d. Feb. 16, 1902, being at the time 
the oldest man in the town. I shall ever regret that I 
could not visit him, as I had planned, after I learned of our 
kinship. He doubtless knew many things of interest relat- 
ing to our early family history. He was the father of ten 
children : 

I. Harriet F.'*, b. Feb. 24, 1839; m. John Carr, March 19, 
1857; r- Geneseo, N. Y. Three children: 

i. Herbert^, b. May 27, 1858; m. first, Mary Janet Youngs, 
Jan. 24, 1890; she d. Jan. 30, 1891 ; m. second, Bertha 
Wilcox, [March 11, 1894; r. Leicester, N. Y. One son: 
Sylvaness Young^, b. Jan. i, 1901. 

ii. Mary Alice^, b. Jan. 5, 1862; m. Lewis G. Laronette, 
June 21, 1894; r. Geneseo, N. Y. Three children : Ruth 
Carr^ b. May 12, 1895 ; Elton Gibbs^, b. Dec. 19, 1897; 
Alice Litchard^, b. Aug. 28, 1900. 

/;"/. Liila Alfraretta^, b. Aug. 24, 1872; m. George Crosset 
McMahan, Dec. 31. 1895; r. Leicester, N. Y. Two 
daughters: Grace Louise^, b. Nov. 22, 1896; 1 Iclcn 
Elizabeth*', b. Jan. 3, 1901. 



232 The Genihardt Family History. 

2. Alexander L.^, b. Xov. 12, 1841 ; m. Myra A. Woods, Dec. 
12, 1871 ; o. farmer; r. Rushford, N. Y. One son: Fred^, 
b. Jan. 7, 1873 ; m. Sadie Davis, of Canedea, N. Y., Aug. 
10, 1898. One daughter: Irene", b. Aug. 11, 1900. 

Alexander enlisted Aug. 29, 1861, in Co. D of the 86th Regi- 
ment N. Y. Vol. Infantry, and after nearly two years' service was 
honorably discharged on account of having inflammatory rheuma- 
tism. Up was the greater part of the time detailed on patrol duty 
in Washington City, and on special service at Gen. Whiple's head- 
quarters. He saw something of the misery and devastation caused 
by war, but the only great fight in which he participated was 
the disastrous second Bull Run battle (August, 1862), in which 
Major General Pope failed to demolish Jackson's army, as he had 
declared with overmuch self-assurance he would do, b}- a l^oastful 
manifesto at the commencement of the campaign, but in which 
he came very near having his own army destroyed. Pope charged 
his defeat to the failure of some of the subordinate commanders 
to support him at the proper time, according to orders, but he 
found public sentiment so much against him that he soon after felt 
impelled to ask to be released from the command. The loss of his 
army in killed and disabled was 11,000, besides being reduced by 
many stragglers from his ranks, and the Confederate loss was re- 
ported to have been 7,241, which is convincing evidence that it was 
a desperately fought battle. It was on account of Pope's charges 
that General Fitz John Porter was, by a court-martial, sentenced 
to be cashiered. Fifteen years later the case was reconsidered by 
a board of army officers, and he was then exonerated. Some 
prominent army men finally became satisfied of his innocence, 
among whom was General Grant, who while President had even 
refused to reopen his case. But Alexander, and the rank and file, 
and the officers of the command generally, were convinced that if 
Porter had moved when and as ordered, the rout would more 
likely have been in the direction of Richmond. 

Alexander unfortunately lost a journal that he kept while in 
the army, which would have been useful now in furnishing data 
for a sketch of his service, and of recalling incidents of interest 



The Gcrnhardt Painily History. 233 

that occurred more than forty years ago. He distinctly recollects 
that at this ill-fated battle of Bull Run there was "something ter- 
ribly wrong/" His command, stripped of everything that could 
in any way hinder a forced march, was at Warrenton Junction the 
night the army was on the move to Bull Run. The station four 
miles above was crowded with cars containing clothing and sup- 
plies, including everything that belonged to his regiment. That 
night the rebels raided the station and burnt everything they did 
not appropriate to their own use. The next morning Porter's 
troops brought up the rear. When they got up to where they 
heard the firing, not more than a mile from their line, instead of 
getting closer and taking a hand in the fight, they were counter- 
marched, now here and now there, until about 3 P. M., when they 
were marched back to the old camp, and that night actually slept 
on the same ground they had slept on the night before. They then 
marched back again over the same ground, and finally got into 
the fight and did Pope some good service, just where Porter had 
been ordered to close the gap the day before. Alexander remem- 
bers well that the 86th was in the line on the extreme left of the 
Union army, and how they then made a furious charge on the 
enemy's right, and drove him back, and held the ground taken 
until "Stonewall'' Jackson extended his right line with a strong 
force and flanked the brigade, and that it then became a matter of 
undoubted discretion to join in the retreat already in progress. 
Had Porter moved as ordered, at the proper time, Alexander 
thinks the historian would have had a more satisfactory story to 
tell of the battle, and is strongly of the opinion that good Honest 
Old Abe did just the right thing when he signed the finding of 
the court-martial that contemned him. Porter's time, he believes, 
was to try to save the arm\- wlicn he had a good chance. \\'hat he 
did later was not enough to make amend for his failure, because, 
as A. L. says, "\\'e nevertheless got a (lc\il of a licking and lost 
hundreds of lives to no ]nirpose." The loss in killed and wounded 
in his part of the light was very heavy. Alexander's division did 
the last hard fighting of the battle, covered the retreat, brought off 
a large number of the wounded, crossed Bull Run aficr midnight, 



234 ^^'^ Gernhardt Family History. 

burned the bridge, thus enabhng the army to retire in tolerably 
good order to Centreville. His brigade reached Centire- 
ville by daylight, but was pretty badly used up. Many 
of the boys got estray in the darkness and in the jam 
of artillery and cavalry, getting back to their commands at all 
hours during the day. Col. Bailey, of the 86th, he remembers, 
had a very beautiful and spirited bay horse, sixteen hands high, 
that had been presented to him by his friends at home. When 
the firing began the animal became unmanageable and the Col- 
onel concluded to lead his men on foot, so he dismounted and 
gave him to some one to take to the rear. He never saw the 
horse again, and never could tell into whose care he had con- 
signed him. 

Alexander was not yet twenty years of age when he enlisted, 
but the war ended his school days, and on his return home he gave 
his time and thought to agriculture. He is one of the Executive 
Committee of the Allegany County Farmers' Club, and some- 
times writes and lectures on agricultural topics. In politics he 
avows himself a staunch Prohibitionist ; his idea being, like 
Shakespeare's, that the "invisible spirit" of intoxicating drinks 
ought to be regarded as a Devil — :if not th^ biggest of all Devils. 
Who can deny that if all the inhabitants in this broad land entirely 
discarded liquor as a drink, they would be a greater, purer and 
happier people, and that millions would be spared from poverty, 
crime and drunkards' graves ? He is also a steward of the Meth- 
odist Episcopal Church of Rushford, but does not think that he 
has departed from the religion of his ancestors, Heinrich and Ro- 
sine, in any essential thing. During the past eleven years he has 
served on the Board of Supervisors, being the only Prohibitionist 
among the twenty-nine members. As the office is regarded as one 
of great importance in his state, this indicates that if our kinsman 
belongs to a very small party, he at least has the respect and confi- 
dence of a very large number of voters. 

3. Almanzo W.4, b. Nov. 12, 1841 ; m. Helen K. Karr, Dec. 
19, 1866; she d. April 28, 1902; r. Rushford, N. Y. Two 
children : 



The Gem hard t faniily History. 235 

i. Martin Karr Litchard°, b. Aug. 3, 1868; m. Pauline E. 
Brainard, Sept. 29, 1891 ; r. Newark, N. J. Two chil- 
dren: Donald Brainard", h. July 28, 1893; Corydon 
Karr^, b. Dec. 11, 1896. 

a. Jennie^, b. Aug. 15, 1876; m. Daniel W. Gilbert, Sept. 
15, 1897; r. Rushford, N. Y. Two children: Helen 
Sophia G.^ b. Aug. 19, 1898; Loren Litchard G.^ b. 
April 14, 1900. 

Almanzo W. Litchard^ enlisted at the same time, Aug. 29, 
1861, that his twin brother, Alexander, entered the service, and 
served in the same company (D, 86th Reg't N. Y. V. I.) until 
December, 1862, when he was taken ill, and while in the hospital 
was honorably discharged. He soon recovered, however, and 
thinking that Uncle Sam still needed him, re-enlisted in August, 
1863, was consigned to the New York Heavy Artillery, Third Di- 
vision, Sixth Corps, and served until June 26, 1865. Side by side 
with Alexander he had part in the adverse second Bull Run bat- 
tle, already described ; afterwards went through the Cedar Creek 
fight under Phil. Sheridan, and subsequently was in all the prin- 
cipal engagements under General Grant, ending with the surren- 
der at Appomattox, and had the satisfaction of being on hand 
when the Confederates marched to Clover Hill, north of Appo- 
mattox Court House, to stack their arms, April 12, 1865. His 
health continued unimpaired, and though many of his comrades 
were killed, and many all around him were wounded, he escaped 
without sustaining the slightest bodily harm. After Lee's army 
was captured, Almanzo's command made forced marches 'to join 
Sherman's army, then chasing Johnston, but did not reach that 
valorous body until the night following Johnston's surrender. He 
expected to see some more ugly work by the clashing of arms, 
but his disappointment on reaching Sherman was not in any sense 
a disagreeable frustration of expectation. Every true soldier in 
his heart reflected the benevolent sentiment of Grant, "Let us have 
Peace." The surrender to Sherman of all the insurgent forces of 
the South east of the Mississippi River now forever ended the 
davs of bloodv strife between the North and the South, and the 



236 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 



rank and file of both armies, and many even of the Southern lead- 
ers, rejoiced. Our respected kinsman can well say with Captain 
Whiting, the Southern poet, who wrote the following affecting 
lines : 

' ' I saw the glazing eyes of those 

Struck down by rifle ball and shell ; 
I saw the angry looks of foes, 

I heard the piercing rebel yell! 

I marked the charging squadron's wheel, 

I heard the stirring bugle call, 
I heard the red-mouthed cannon's peal — 

I saw the men in wind-rows fall. 

Sudden the hideous spectres fled — 

The hushed sounds of battles cease; 
A cloudless sky is overhead. 

Indicative of Love and Peace. 

Oh ! brothers of the wintry North ! • ' 

Oh! brethren of the sunny South! 
May civil discords call you forth 

No more, to face the cannon's mouth ! 

After returning from the war Almanzo took a commercial 
course and graduated from Eastman's College, Poughkeepsie, N. 
Y. In politics he is a staunch Republican, and was elected by his 
party to the Legislature of New York in 1898, 1899 and 1900. 
He is the President of the Allegany County Farmers' Co-opera- 
tive Fire Insurance Company, incorporated in 1883, and now hav- 
ing property insured to the amount of $5,500,000. Is also the 
President of the Allegany County Farmers' Club. A curious 
biological fact pertaining to these twin brothers is that when they 
were boys Alexander was much the stouter and heavier, but on 
reaching manhood the relative condition has been completely re- 
versed, as Almanzo is now the stronger, and, tipping the scales at 
195, weighs fifty pounds more than Alexander. Both are active, 
vigorous and useful men. Both are also fervent members of the 
Grand Army of the Republic, and it seems that, if possible, they 
never miss the opportunity to meet their surviving comrades at 
the National Encampments. 



Tlic Gcnihardt family Ilislory. 237 

4. John B.^ b. Dec. 18, 1845 ; "i- Sarah Ferry, of Almond, N. 
Y., Nov. 5, 1874; Sarah d. July 6, 1896; o. miller; has a 
half interest in a grist mill at Wilson, Niagara County, X. 
Y. Five children : 

/. Cora Bclle^, h. April i, 1876; m. Bert Mudge, Nov. 21, 
1900. One daughter: Florence L.^, b. March 18, 
1902. 

a. Frank Esra^, b. Dec. 19, 1878. 

Hi. Claud G.^, b. Jan. 15, 1880; m. Carrie Wheeler. March 
29, 1902. 

iv. Clyde A.^, b. Jan. 15, 1880. 

V. Edgar B.^, b. March 10, 1884. 

Claude and Clyde° are the sixth pair of twins in the Litchard 
branch of our family. Margaret^ and her sister, Catharine Fogle- 
man (1783), were twins. George Litchard^ was twice the father 
of twins (1841) and 1861) ; his sister, Catharine Amess (1858), 
had twins; and Lucy Keihle Clark* had twins (1890). 

John B.*, when not yet 18 years old, seemed to think that his 
father's family ought to be represented in the cause of ihe Union 
and the Constitution by all his sons who were old enough to bear 
arms, so he accordingly enlisted x\ug. 17, 1863, and as a recruit 
joined the veterans of Co. D, First New York Dragoons, Second 
Div. Cavalry Corps, under General Wesley Merritt, and served 
until the close of the war. He returned to his home in time to go 
to school again while he was still a minor. It was his fortune to 
take part in twelve of the forty-four engagements in which his 
regiment fought, was twice wounded — first at Newtown, Ga., 
Aug. IT, 1864, by a wound in the wrist that laid him up for two 
months ; and second, at Cedar Creek, Oct. 17, 1864, one week after 
he rejoined his company, by a bullet hitting him on the hip, which- 
put him off duty for three weeks — and several times narrowly 
escaped falling into the hands of the enemy. During a raid in the 
neighborhood of Lynchburg he was in a skirmish on a side hill 
and had his horse killed. When tlie animal fell it rolled over 
him and bruised him badly. The (at that time) very inhospitable 
Johnnies were within forty rods of him, keeping up a lively 



238 The GernJiardt Family History. 

fusillade, but he managed to escape without further injury. Sev- 
eral of his comrades were wounded, one fatally. The most san- 
guinary encounter in his experience was at Cold Harbor, June 3, 
1864, where his regiment, fighting dismounted, in crossing a field 
raked by rebel infantry and artillery, lost 66 men in 40 minutes, 
yet he had here also passed through the shower of lead and iron 
unharmed. This was one of the bloodiest battles of the cam- 
paign of 1864, but it was not a decisive one for either side, except 
that it was of decisive effect on the fast vanishing resources of the 
Confederacy. Grant was compelled to change his plan. It was 
a better cause, and greater resources, that decided the four years 
of internal strife in favor of the Old Flag. The fighting qualities 
were too near alike to make any distinction as to valor. 

We in this age talk boastfully of Civilized Warfare, yet must 
confess with regret that at the best war is still unrefined Cruelty. 
It is still the infliction of suffering and destitution on the innocent, 
want and hardship on the aged and infirm, misery and sorrow on 
defenseless women and children, mutilation or death on the men 
bearing arms, and it can never be conducted that triumph will not 
be decided by cruelty and destruction. When the hostile spirit is 
once awakened by bloodshed it justifies the destruction of life and 
property, until the enemy surrenders, or his country is laid waste 
and he is destroyed. John B. remembers well how Sheridan, his 
chief commander, felt obliged to ravage the territory through 
which he marched, how he destroyed the grain and forage, barns 
stored with wheat and hay, and farming implements, burnt grist 
mills, seized the horses, drove ofif the cattle and sheep, and made 
'the country as worthless to the Confederate army as he possibly 
could. Our kinsman relates an incident that illustrates one of the 
evils of war, and a practice that too often disgraced even the Old 
Flag. A member of his regiment when foraging had a peccant 
for appropriating silverware and silk dresses to send home to his 
people. One day when J. B. was out with a company foraging 
for the army he entered a house and found this secretive comrade, 
■who was foraging on his own account, in a very unenviable pre- 
xiicament. He had just been searching a large chest for the 



Tlic Gcniltardt Family History. ' 22,g 



things he coveted, when the pkicky woman of the house suddenly 
dropped the lid on him and jumped on it and held him there, and 
would have held him until he died if J. B. had not pulled her off 
and saved him. 

Our kinsman saw enough to satisfy him that it will be a 
bright day for humanity when war shall cease, and hopes that its 
final extinction in the civilized world will not be postponed for 
another century. Why indeed cannot states and nations settle 
their differences by arbitration and law, the same as individuals, 
corporations, and town communities? If the world is to become 
Christianized, then surely the time will come when nations shall 
beat their swords into plowshares, their spears into pruning hooks, 
and learn war no more. The great slaveholders' rebellion should 
not have been possible in this enlightened age, and would not have 
occurred if the calmer and more Christian people of the South 
had been heeded, but it was the selfish ambition of their desperate 
and unscrupulous political leaders that plunged them into self- 
destructive insurrection. They drew the sword, and they perished 
by the sword. They fought to perpetuate slavery, and they caused 
slavery to be abolished. They fought for disunion, political 
power, and hoped to extend slavery. Their Northern brethren 
fought for the Union and the Constitution, and to restrict 
SLAVERY to where it was — and even after the nation was plunged 
into civil war, the government forts and arsenals had been seized,, 
proposed not to interfere with slavery where it existed if the in- 
surgents would lay down their arms. It is well for humanity that 
the seditious states rejected the offer of peace on that condition. 
They who fought for the "Lost Cause," therefore, may be said to 
have unconsciously fought for a Good Cause — for Freedom — even 
for Emancipation. 

Let us hope that no descendant of Heinrich — and no others of 
the sons of men — will ever hereafter be obliged to go to war. but 
that the thirty-three of our kindred who have fought under the 
Old Flag will be the last compelled to engage in cruel carnage for 
the ricfhts of man. War is a relic of animalism and barbarism. 



240 The GernJiardt Family History. 

It is one of the "evils of the flesh." The fruits of the Right Spirit 
are Love, Mercy, Meekness, Law, Order and Peace — the hope and 
promise of the future ! 

But the Golden Age of Peace and Disarmament is still an era 
of the future. The cherished policy of the ruling nations is still 
to be prepared for war, believing that in the present state of so- 
ciety the arbitrament of the sword is thus abbreviated, or often en- 
tirely averted. The greed and selfishness of man still prevents the 
world from being at Peace. It was the unremitting cruelty, 
tyranny and avarice of the Spaniards that compelled the United 
States to recognize the independence of the people of Cuba — April 
18, 1898 — and, as President McKinley said in his respectful reply 
to the friendly communication of the European powers, obliged us 
"to fulfill a duty to humanity by ending a situation the indefinite 
prolongation of ivhich has become insufferable." It was in a 
spirit of unselfish and generous patriotism to serve in the cause of 
oppressed humanity, therefore, that our kinsman, Frank Ezra 
Litchard^, son of John B., enlisted on the i6th day of November, 
1898, for three years, in the Hospital Corps of the Army of the 
United States. He did not enlist to participate in the merciless 
clash of arms, but to perform the tender and equally patriotic and 
important service of taking care of the sick and wounded — in the 
doing of which there is at times exposure to the calamities of war, 
as liability to be killed in action, or to death from disease. He 
was first sent to Camp McKenzie, Augusta, Ga., where he was on 
duty until March i, 1899, when he was stricken down and came 
near death's door with 'typhoid fever. When sufficiently recov- 
ered, April 28, he received a furlough to go home. He there im- 
proved rapidly, and when his leave of absence expired, June 15, 
reported to Fort Porter, at Buffalo, N. Y. On the i6th of Au- 
gust he was sent in charge of a number of Hospital Corps recruits 
to Fort Columbus, N. Y. Harbor, where they were given a befit- 
ting course of instruction. On the 27th of September he boarded 
the hospital ship Missouri with a detachment of the Corps, bound 
for the Philippine Islands, via the Suez Canal, and arrived at Ma- 
nila November 28, after a tiresome voyage of 59 days. 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 241 

The routine of hospital work was occasionally diversified in 
a way that afforded the boys both salutary relaxation and merri- 
ment. One of Frank's amusing recollections was a midnight raid 
on a negro's watermelon patch, in which he participated with 
about a dozen of the Corps boys, while still at Camp McKenzie. 
The moon was shining brightly as the pillagers quietly moved 
through the pine woods and came to the clearing in which the 
lucious fruit lay partly hidden among the vines. A menacing 
barbed wire fence enclosed the ground, the well-stretched strands 
of which were only about twelve inches apart, so that it required 
some circumspection to press through without being lacerated. All 
managed to get through without special derangement except 
Roly-poly, a short, chubby, good natured youth whose circumfer- 
ence was almost equal to his longitude, and whose weight, 180 
pounds, was altogether disproportionate to his height. He man- 
aged to wriggle through, however, but not without embarrassing 
contact with the sharp barbs, and not until he had entertained his 
companions by the free use of some very unrefined language. 
Each of the boys soon secured a good-sized melon, and started 
for the fence on the return march. They had not noticed the small 
hut standing in the shadow of the trees on the opposite border of 
the patch. They had just reached the fence when they heard the 
now alarmed negro proprietor shout, "Sic 'em, Tiger ! Sick 'em ! 
Ketch 'em ! Bite 'em. Tiger," and as he clapped his hands the 
big dog rushed forward to execute the command. The boys all 
got through the fence in good time, and in fairly good shape, ex- 
cept Roly-poly, and as he could not at once adjvist himself to the 
perilous situation, he had to suffer from the lively onset of Tiger. 
The rotund youth had got fast among the clutching barbs, and 
the next thing that happened the dog had him by the broadest 
part of his trousers and commenced pulling him along the wires, 
now to the right and then to the left, he all the while kicking vig- 
orously and yelling vociferously, but still stanchly holding on to 
the melon under his arm, while his tindanntcd comrades stood a 
few rods away in the shadow of the forest trying hard not to 
laugh and discover themselves. Roly-poly, after several extraor- 



242 The Gernhardt Family History. 

dinary efforts, finally squirmed through, however, but not until 
he had suffered considerable damage, and had lost a very valu- 
able part of his habiliment. When the boys arrived in camp they 
feasted on melons. The next day they nearly all had melon-colic, 
brought on by irregularity, excessive laughing, excitement and 
exertion, and' — too much melon. Thus was rendered to them their 
desert. 

The men in the hospital service all have their interesting remi- 
niscences, pathetic and amusing, as well as the men who carried 
the guns and accoutrements and fought. Frank recalls that among 
the 153 Hospital Corps men who left New York on the Missouri 
there was a bright and handsome young Georgian who, on ac- 
count of his exceptional vivacity and'light-heartedness, while the 
detachment was receiving the required course of instruction in 
hospital work at Fort Columbus, had become a general favorite. 
As the vessel was moving out on the deep the young man who had 
been so gay stood silently and sadly gazing at the fast receding 
shore line, when one of the Corps approached him, and calling 
him by name, kindly asked what made him so down-hearted. 
Hesitating a moment, he frankly and gravely answered, "I will 
tell you boys. I have left a good home, affectionate parents, loving 
brothers and sisters, all because I was a little bit wayward, and 
perhaps I have taken leave of that happy home forever." And 
this blithe young man was the first one of the detachment to die in 
the Philippine Islands. Did the youth have a presentiment of 
his impending doom ? 

The Missouri entered the harbor of Gibraltar very early on a 
bright November morning, and was slowly steaming to a place of 
anchorage near the city, when she was suddenly found to be al- 
most surrounded by a number of row boats containing Spanish 
fishermen. The loving subjects of the young sovereign, Alfonso 
Xni, and the Regent Queen, Maria Christina, stared intently at 
the big white vessel, over the stern of which the Stars and Stripes 
fluttered gently in the light breeze, and all of a sudden they be- 
gan to shout, "Bad Americans ! Bad Americans," in their mother 



The Gcrnluirdt Family History. 243 

tongue, and defiantly shook their fists at Old Glory. This was 
more than the plucky American boys could stand. The cooks 
had pared three bushels or more of potatoes for breakfast, and 
left them in tubs outside of the galley door. Seeing them so 
handy, one of the boys called out, "Hurrah, boys! let's give 'em 
cold potatoes." With one accord about 80 of the Corps made a 
rush for the tubs and filled their pockets and hands with the pared 
tubers, and then ran back to the railing and commenced a general 
fusillade at the haughty Spaniards. For a few moments, as Frank 
tells it, "the air was white with the 'Irish lemons,' and it is safe 
to say that three out of every five potatoes hit either the Spaniards 
or the boats. The chief cook complained to Major A., their com- 
mander, and soon the ringleaders, or as many of them as could 
be found — and Frank confesses that he was one of them — were 
marched before the Major for trial and to receive sentence. One 
of the boys who was especially blessed with the gift of gab was 
chosen to act as spokesman and plead the cause of the insulted 
Americans. The Major asked what they meant by thus wantonly 
wasting their breakfast. The prolocutor responded in his most 
persuasive and urbane manner, and concluded his clever vindica- 
tion by saying, "we thought that we were inspired by the spirit of 
patriotism to defend our Flag, even though we had to fire pota- 
toes tO' do it." The Major did not visibly concur with the eloquent 
advocate, and said with seeming sternness that if anything of the 
kind occurred again he would order every man down in the hold, 
and keep them there indefinitely on bread and water. The boys 
fancied that they observed a faintly visible twinkle in his eye 
while he made this appalling threat (and perhaps the Major just 
then thought of the inhuman treacher\' by which the U. S. battle- 
ship Alaine was blown up in Havana harbor, and 266 of our brave 
boys killed), and as they were not punished they concluded that 
they (lid not mistake. But all they had that morning for break- 
fast was dry bread and strong black coffee. 

All who have read and properly appreciated that felicitous, 
heart-touching poem, "Bingen on the Rhine," can realize that 
€verv true soldier who dies for his countrv, far from home and 



244 ^^''-' Gernhardt Family History. 

friends, has a more or less mournful story. Frank was more than 
once seriously reminded of the expiring Bingen "Soldier of the 
Legion" as he saw men die, with their thoughts riveted on their 
native land, and the loved ones who were hoping and waiting 
there. While on duty in the First Reserve Hospital at Manila, 
then the largest hospital in the Philippines, a large, handsome 
soldier, about twenty-two years of age, was one Saturday after- 
noon brought to Frank's ward with every symptom of typhoid 
fever in its very worst form. As the days passed the patient grew 
weaker, and the symptoms no better, and one week later the sur- 
geon gave up all hope of saving him. All day on the second Sat- 
urday he raved in delirium, talking of home, kindred, friends, his 
boy days, and then suddenly his mind would revert back to his 
military duties. Late in the day he became so exhausted from 
talking and shouting that he could no longer speak above a whis- 
per. He lay in a stupor, wildly muttering, until about 7 130 P. M., 
when he became calm and once more rational. Frank was stand- 
ing on the opposite side of the ward, twenty feet or more from 
his cot, and noticed that he was being intently gazed at by him, 
and concluded that he probably wished to say something. Step- 
ping to his side and bending over him, Frank asked if there was 
anything that he could do for him. He nodded affirmatively and 
whispered, "What State are you from?" "From the State of New 
York." "Have you ever lived in Ohio?" "No." "Are you 
sure?" "Yes." "Well, that is strange!" he feebly whispered, 
and as if disappointed, but soon continued : "I have a sister in 
Ohio whom you wonderfully resemble. I want you to write to 
her and tell her where and how I died, and that I was not afraid 
to die, and give her my Good By," etc. Forty minutes later his 
lifeless body was carried over to the morgue." 

"Tell my sister not to weep for me, and sob with drooping head 
When the troops come marching home again with glad and gallant tread ; 
But to look upon them proudly, with a calm and steadfast eye, 
For her brother was a soldier too, and not afraid to die." 

After serving one year in the hospital at Manila Frank re- 
turned to the United States, and in due time arrived at the Hos- 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 245 

pital Corps School of Instruction, on Angel Island, San Francisco 
Bay. January 3, 1901, he reported for duty at the Camp of Re- 
cruits, at the Presidio, near San Francisco. The recruits — or 
"rookies," as the medicos called them — were being enlisted 
throughout the country as fast as possible to fill up the regiments 
and replace the men mustered out as their terms of enlistment ex- 
pired, as well as the losses by disease and battle, and these new 
men arrived at the rate of 60 to 80 every day. They were exam- 
ined by the Surgeon and -Stewart, assisted by Frank. Frank's 
special duty was to vaccinate, and he estimates that he put Uncle 
Sam's "trade mark" on about 6,000 recruits. His success is not 
merely to be measured by the following circumstance : In charge 
of the department for a time was a new First Lieutenant Surgeon 
who was not up to the ways of the rookies to escape doing duty. 
At the sick call each morning he marked "quarters" nearly all 
who claimed to be ailing, and they were thus excused from all 
duty, and could lay at ease in their bunks the rest of the day. One 
morning about 50 men stood in front of the tent, expecting to be 
marked "quarters" as soon as the bugle sounded the sick call and 
the Doctor appeared, but the place of the new physician was now 
filled by an old army surgeon who knew all about rookies. When 
the sick book was opened the wily recruits were ready to practice 
their deceit on Uncle Sam. The first man called had his arm in 
a sling, and a woe-be-gone expression on his face. "What is the 
trouble?" said the Doctor kindly. "Oh, Doctor, I've been vacci- 
nated and my arm pains me awfully. I want to be marked 'quar- 
ters.' I can only raise my arm so high" — lifting his arm not half- 
shoulder high as he spoke. "That's too bad," the Doctor replied 
in a tone of sympathy. "Let me see your arm." The rookey 
carefully slipped his sleeve up and disclosed a small red spot where 
the virus was taking effect, but was certainly not very painful. 
"Now, that is a bad-looking arm," and the Doctor seemed very 
serious. "How high could you raise it before vaccinated?" "Oh, 
so high, Doctor," and the poor fool raised his arm straight up from 
his shoulder. This was too much for the Doctor, and instantly 
his manner changed to unmistakable sternness as he spoke so all 



246 The Gernhardt Family History. 



could hear : "I'll teach you chaps a lesson. Back, all of you, to 
dutv. Get out of here, and be lively about it too. Git." And git 
they did. Every man that morning was marked "Duty" as soon 
as he came in, and from that time on there was little trouble with 
the rookies. 

November i6th Frank was honorably discharged, having been 
in the service just three years, and in the meantime had at Uncle 
Sam's expense made a journey around the world. In closing the 
last letter I had from him he said : "I am glad to know I was 
not the only one in our long line of relations who participated in 
the Spanish -American War. If the other boys feel as I do about 
it they would not take a round $1,000 for what they saw, and went 
through, and Vv^ould not go through it again for another $1,000." 

5, Lemuel H. Litchard^, b. Sept. 4, 185 1 ; unm. ; r. Waltham, 

Mass. Has been in the employ of the White Sewing Ma- 
chine Company since 1896. 

6, Lettie L.4, b. Feb. 24, i860; m. Leroy Allen, Nov. 3, 1877; 

r. Arkport, N. Y. Four children : Pearl A.^, b. Dec. 30, 
1878— m. H. H. Hallock, July 25, 1896; Lynn A.s, b. Dec. 
31, 1883; Feni Litchard A.^, b. Oct. 4, 1898; Iva Rosine 
A.s, b. Feb. 25, 1902. 

7, Ida A..4, ) 

Q A A '4 l^' ^^^^^'' ^4' ^^^^- -^^^^"^ ^- ^^^ same year. 

9. Dora L.^, b. Jan. 22, 1863; m. Frank Dunning, Dec. 20, 

1882; r. Canaseraga, N. Y. Two children: George^, b. 
Oct. 2, 1885; Ross^, b. Feb. 25, 1892. 

10. Roger George Litchard*, b. Oct. 19, 1864 — on the day of 
Sheridan's famous ride from Winchester to Cedar Creek, 
when his brothers, Almanzo and Alexander, and cousin. 
Royal R. Clemens, in the afternoon helped whip the Con- 
federates for their rude conduct in the battle in the morn- 
ing. P. O. Arkport, N. Y., o. farming and teaching. 
Occupies the Homestead, on which he was born and raised. 
Is a member of the Methodist Episcopal Church, and dur- 
ing the last ten years has been either the Bible Class 
Teacher or Superintendent of the Sunday School. Married 
Miss Adah Curtis, of Springwater, N. Y., Oct. 12, 1892. 
Has two children: Ruth Gladys^ b. March 30, 1894; 
George Lewis^, b. Dec. 20, 1895. 






•y. 




The GcniJiardt Family History. 247 

V. ELIZABETHS, b. March 11, 1817; m. James Keihlex ; 
r. Dansville, N. Y. She d. Nov. 17, 1884, and he d. Oct. 
28, 1889. Had eleven children : 

I. David Litchard Keihle^ b. Feb. 7, 1837. The following 
is from a sketch found in a History of Minnesota : 

"Professor David Litchard Keihle spent his youth in the 
graded schools of Dansville, N. Y. ; began to teach at sixteen years 
of age ; attended the State Normal School at Albanv, and gradu- 
ated in 1856 ; taught three years in the Canandaigua Academy ; 
entered the junior class of Hamilton College, Clinton, New York, 
in 1859, and graduated in 1861, one of the 'honor' members of the 
class. While in college, in addition to the classical course, he con- 
nected himself with the laboratory and took a special course in 
chemistry. He taught a graded school in Monroe, Michigan, dur- 
ing the year 1862 ; then took a full course of studies in the Union 
Theological Seminary ; was graduated in 1865, and ordained to the 
Presbyterian ministry. While preparing for this work he taught 
in the Polytechnic and Collegiate Institute in Brooklyn, in all 
nearly three years. 

"In 1865 he came to Minnesota, organized a Presbyterian 
Church at Preston, Fillmore County, became its pastor and re- 
mained there ten years. During the last six of those years he was 
County Superintendent of Schools, driven into that work on ac- 
count of poor health. By riding on horseback from school to 
school, and from town to town, he gradually improved, and was 
able to fill the requirements of the office. During live of these 
years that he was Superintendent he preached once a day on Sun- 
day, simply supplying the pulpit without doing pastoral work. 
The last three years that he was at Preston he was one of the di- 
rectors of the State Normal Schools; in 1875 was appointed by 
the board to take charge of the Normal School at Saint Cloud. In 
1881 he resigned this position to accept the appointment of 
State Superintendent of Public Instruction of Minnesota. In 
this position he remained through six successive reappointments 
until 1893, when he resigned, accepting an election as Professor 



248 The GernJiardt Family History. 



of Pedagogy in the University of Minnesota. In this position he 
remained until his resignation in 1902. 

"The subject of education seems to be the one absorbing theme 
with him. His best thoughts, his time, his energies are devoted to 
the questions, "What is modern education, and how can it be made 
available and practical in the philosophy and theories of the 
day?" 

From this sketch it is evident that Professor Keihle is not only 
a zealous and devoted educator, but that he is a man of notable 
ability, and that he has by his merits won the distinction he has 
been favored with. When last heard from he was engaged in the 
composition of a work the title of which is "A Philosophy of the 
History of Education," which may be expected to embody his best 
and maturest conceptions. On the 25th of July, 1864, he was mar- 
ried to Miss Mary Oilman, of Dansville, N. Y. They have four 
children : 

i. Adelia Mary KJ>, b. Aug. 17, 1866; m. Dr. J. C. E. King, 
May 14, 1891 ; r. Salt Lake City, Utah. 

ii. Louise Gilinan K.^, b. Aug. 31, 1868; m. Rev. Carl 
Wardsworth Scovel, pastor of Babcock Memorial 
Church, Baltimore, Md., May 17, 1900. 

Hi. Dr. Frederick Andreivs Keihle^, b. Aug. 10, 1872; r. 
West Jordan, Utah. 

iv. Florence Keihle^, b. May 21, 1879. 

2. Mary Elizabeth Keihle^, b. Sept. 15, 1839; m. Harvey A. 

Fairchild, Aug. 26, 1869 ; r. Dansville, N. Y. Four chil- 
dren : 

i. Percy M. F\^, b. March 20, 1871 ; m. Miss Blanche Kuhn, 
Jan. 26, 1898; r. Sparta, N. Y. 

ii. Edward F.^, b. June 17, 1872 ; m. Miss Helen McCurdy 
Edwards, of Dansville, June 30, 1903 ; r. Milwaukee, 
Wis. 

Hi. Georgiana F.^, b. Aug. 26, 1878. 

iv. Charlotte Louisa F.^, b. July i, 1881. 

3. William P. Keihle*, b. Dec. 11, 1840; d. June 21, 1845. 

4. Delia Ann Keihle*, b. Nov. 23, 1842; d. unm. Aug. 12. 

1865. 



The GcrnJiardt Funiily History. 249 

5. Francis Marion Keihle-*, b. !March 26, 1845; <^1- Jan. 15, 

1862. 

6. Amos Augustus Keihle*, b. March 22, 1847. The follow- 

ing highly commendatory notice of our kinsman was ob- 
tained from a sketch of him in "Men of Progress," a book 
published in Milwaukee in 1897: 

"Rev. Amos Augustus Kiehle, D. D., pastor of Calvary Presby- 
terian Church, Milwaukee, was born in Dansville, N. Y. His 
father. James Kiehle, was a tanner by trade and occupation, own- 
ing a tannery which he carried on for years, gaining thereby a 
moderate competency. He was one of those highly respected citi- 
zens who form the conservative element in every prosperous com- 
munity. A. A. Kiehle's mother was Elizabeth Litchard, a woman 
of sterling Christian character, who impressed herself indelibly 
upon her children to their lasting good. Both paternal and ma- 
ternal grandfathers were residents of Pennsylvania, but removed 
to New York when their children were young, settling on farms 
in Livingston County, where they remained during the rest of 
their lives. 

"A. A. Kiehle received his early education in the district school, 
which was followed by a course in the Dansville Seminary, an 
institution of higher education with more than a local reputation 
for the thoroughness of its instruction. He then taught for two 
years in Canandaigua Academy, and in the meantime prepared 
himself for a collegiate course, which he took at Hamilton College, 
Clinton, N. Y., entering that institution in September, 1867, and 
graduating therefrom in 1871. While in college he was a member 
•of the Delta Upsilon Fraternity and a most faithful and successful 
student, making a record for thorough scholarship and for a broad 
and liberal culture. As student and teacher he paid attention to 
the study of elocution, in which he won several prizes and acquired 
a faculty and power as a public speaker which has proved of great 
practical advantage to him. He believes that the study of lan- 
guage and elocution are not accorded the place in a liberal course 
of study which their importance demands. In the fall of 187 1 he 



250 The Gernhard9 Family History. 

entered Union Theological Seminary in New York City, and grad- 
uated therefrom in the class of 1874. Soon after he received and 
accepted a call to the pastorate of the Franklin Avenue Presby- 
terian Church of Minneapolis, Minn., and on the 21st of October, 
1874, he was ordained to the gospel ministry and installed pastor 
of that church. The duties of this position he discharged with 
much fidelity until February, 1878, when he accepted a call from 
the First Presbyterian Church of Stillwater, Minn., where he la- 
bored with great ability and success until the summer of 1881, 
when he became pastor of Calvary Presbyterian Church of Mil- 
waukee, which he is still most acceptably filling. During his pas- 
torate the church has more than doubled its membership, a heavy 
debt has been paid, and the church building has been enlarged. 

"Mr. Kiehle is a Republican in politics, and, while he is in no 
sense a 'political preacher,' he takes a deep interest in all public 
questions, whether political, social or industrial, and never neglects 
his duties as a citizen. He is eminently a preacher of the gospel, 
but is fully alive to the fact that the gospel has a very close rela- 
tion to daily, practical life, and he does not hesitate to point out 
and emphasize that relation in a manner that leaves a lasting im- 
pression. As a preacher Mr. Kiehle has a popular manner, is an 
impressive reader of the Scriptures, has a voice that easily fills 
the largest audience rooms and is most pleasant to the ear. His 
style is clear, direct, forcible and often most eloquent, while the 
plain truths of Scripture seem to acquire a new power as they fall 
from his lips. He does not unduly advance the doctrinal phase of 
religion, nor does he indulge in mere theological speculation. He 
is a broad, liberal-minded, growing man, and one who stands in 
the front rank of his profession." 

Mr. Kiehle was married to Miss Julia Reed, of Livonia, N. Y.,. 
May 13, 1874. She d. Aug. i, 1878, leaving two daughters, Bes- 
sie Marian^, b. Jan. 19, 1876, and Grace Julia^, b. Sept. 16, 1877. 
July 28th, 1881, he married Miss Frances Decker, of South Li- 
vonia, N. Y., who d. March 10, 1885, leaving a son, Ernest R.^ b. 
V Dec. 10, 1883. On the 24th of June, 1890, Mr. Kiehle married 

Miss Bessie Harrison, of Milwaukee. 



The Gernhanit Family History. 251 

7. RoSETTA Keihle'*, b. April 7, 1849; '^- ^^ct. 10, 1863. 

8. Harriet E. Keihle'*, b. May 7, 185 1 ; m. Edward Payson 

Clark, Feb. 11, 1873; r. Dansville, N. Y. Four children: 
E. Louise^, b. MArch 3, 1874; Harry C/"', b. Feb. 7, 1876; 
Alice B.5, b. April 20, 1878; Frederick E.^, b. Jan. 25, 1881. 

9. Albert Melvin Keihle'*, b. June 15, 1853; ni. Mary Edith 

Scott, Avig. 24, 1882; r. Minneapolis, Minn. Two chil- 
dren: Edith Belief b. Nov. 21, 1884; James Scott^, b. 
June 27, 1886. 

10. Lucy Keihle^, b. Dec. 29, 1855; m. George Clark, May 
29, 1879; r. Minneapolis, Minn. Six children: Walter 
Kiehle^, b. April 22, 1880; Frances Mildred'^, b. Nov. 2, 
1883 ; Mary Elizabeth^, b. Dec. 30, 1887; Cora^, b. Sept. 6, 
1890; Carrie^ b. Sept. 6, 1890; Marguerite^, b. Jan. 10, 
1893. 

11. Carrie Louise Keihle*, b. Aug. 6, 1858; r. Minneapolis, 
Minn. 

VL MARY3, b. April 18, 1818; m. Isaac Steffy ;x She d. 
June 9, 1891 ; r. Springwater, N. Y. Had four children : 

1. Elizabeth Steffy^, b. about 1844; d. in infancy. 

2. John Steffy'*, b. Aug. 14, 1846; m.^ 

3. Monroe Steffy"*, b. Jan. 17, 1849; m. Vida Curtis.^ He 
d. Sept. 10, 1888. Two children :x 

4. Deliah Steffy'^, b. May 23, 1851 ; m. Belden B. Crane: r. 

Livonia, N. Y. Seven children: Mary L.^, b. Dec. 11, 
1868; Scott W.s, b. Jan. 29, 1873; Vernie A.^. b. Aug. 21. 
1876; Sarah M.^, b. Sept. 27, 1879: Belden B.^. b. Tulv 28, 
1883 ; Nellie^, b. Aug. 11, 1885 ; John^, b. Nov. 8, 1887. 

VH. CATHARINE LITCHARD^, b. Dec. 20, 1820 ; m. first, 
Baltis Mosteller, about 1840; second, John Amess, of England, 
Nov. 3, 1858; r. Sultphen. Kansas. She d. Aug. 25, 1893. J. A. 
•d. Jan. I, 1895. She had seven children: 

I. John Mosteller"*, b. Oct. to. 1841 ; m. Elizabeth Brien, 
Sept. I, 1874; she d. Dec. 23, 1898, and came from Belfast, 
Ireland; r. Saginaw, Mich. Had eight children: 



252 The GcrnJiardt Family History. 

i. Frank C}, b. May 2y, 1875 ; m. Maud C. Pinard, Jan. 16, 
1901. 

ii. James E.^, b. April 23, 1877. 

Hi. Thomas B.^, b. Jan. 17, 1881. 

iv. Mary Ross^, b. July 10, 1883. 

V. William H.^, b. March 15, 1885. 

vi. John P.^, b. Jan. 25, 1889. 

vii. Anna I.^, b. Jan. 15, 1891. 

via. Ruth^, h. April 4, 1894. 

2. Harriet M.*, b. March 7, 1847; ^- ^^st, Luther Haas, July 
29, 1868; he d. April 28, 1871 ; m. second, Philo Harger, 
March 18, 1877; ^- Denver, Col. One child: Frederick 
D. Haas^, b. Oct. i, 1870; m. Grace Leare, Sept. 19, 1900^ 
r. Denver, Col. 

3. William Mosteller^ b. Jan. 7, 1851 ; m. Mary Ida Cole- 

man. He d. May 20, 1888, at Harrison, Mich. She d. at 

Pasadena, Cal., Jan. 13, 1893. Had five children: 

i. Nellie^, b. Oct. 15, 1876; m. L. C. Miller, of Colorado 
Springs, Col.^* 

ii. Walter B.^ h. Aug. 5, 1880; d. Feb. 18, 1881. 

Hi. Ray W.^, b. Feb. 23, 1882 ; r. Pasadena, Cal. 

iv. Eva E.^, b. Feb. 13, 1885. After death of her father 
was adopted by some wealthy family and taken to Eng- 
land. 

V. Mary Ida^, b. April 20, 1888; r. Los Angeles, Cal. 

4. James O. Amess^, b. Oct. 8, 1854; d. April 8, 1872. 

5. Samuel E. Amess^ b. Jan. 29, 1856; d. May 2, 1868. 

6. George J. Amess*, b. July 13, 1858; m. Edith E. Hardy,. 

May 21, 1884; r. Sultphen, Kansas. Eight children: 
Floyd M.5, b. March 7, 1885; James S.^, b. May 22, 1886;. 
Florence E.^, b. March 26, 1889; Jennie D.^, b. April 26,. 
1891 ; Theodore R.^, b. Nov. 16, 1893 ; Edna E.s, b. March 
25, 1895; Ivan A.^ b. Jan. 28, 1898 — d. Jan, 29, 1898; 
Georgiana^, b. June 6, 1899. 

7. Mary Amess^ b. July 13, 1858. She and George J. are 
twins; m. Boyd L. Grey, of Alton, 111., March i, 1887; r. 
near Sultphen, Kansas, on the "Homestead," and near the- 




MRS. m.\ki;ai:ki' ci.iCMoxs.t, 
sri.ri'iii;\. Kansas. 



Tlic Gcrnhardt Family History. 253 

home of her aunt, ^Margaret R. demons. Four children : 
Ora B.5, b. July 6, 1888; Charlie J.s, b. April 20, 1890; Ada 
M.5, b. Oct. 30, 1891 ; Nellie J.^, b. Nov. 20, 1898. 



VIII. MARGARET REBECCA^ b. Oct. 22, 1822 ; m. James 
J. demons, of Conesus, N. Y., Jan. 13, 1842. He was born Nov. 
II, 1820, and died May 6, 1903. 

She is the only one now living of the ten children of ^largaret 
and John Litchard, and is one of the five sole present survivors of 
the third generation of the family of Heinrich Gernhardt. With 
her husband and children she moved from Burns, N. Y., in 1870,. 
to Dickinson County, Kansas, and settled, and she still lives, on a 
very fertile farm of 480 acres, in a beautiful prairie country, near 
Sultphen, on Chapman Creek, ten miles east of the Republican 
River. The famous old "Pikes Peak Trail," around which many 
memories still cluster, crossed their land, traces of the trail being 
still visible. An almost constant stream of emigrants commenced 
to flow over this route in the spring of 1859, and continued for sev- 
eral years, to the newly discovered gold placers in the Pikes Peak 
region of Colorado. Margaret's children, as she once wrote me, 
all live within a day's drive of her home. In closing one of her 
esteemed letters she said: "Providence has dealt kindly with us, 
for which we try to be thankful." She and James had : 

I. Royal Rowland Clemons'*, b. Aug. 5, 1843 .• m- Mary Jane 
Gilbert, of Allegheny County, N. Y., Jan. 12, 1870; r. i\lan- 
hatten, Kansas. Two daughters : 

i. Lorcna Estelle^, b. March 18, 1874. Miss Lorena is the 
Secretary of the Kansas State Agricultural College, the 
largest institution of its class in this country, or in the 
world, located one mile from the city in which her 
parents reside. According to the 1902 catalogue of the 
college, the total number of students enrolled in the 
various departments is 1,396. As Miss Lorena has 
held the important position of Secretary upwards of 
four years, and receives a liberal salary, it is evident 
that she is amply endowed with the necessary ability,. 



254 The Gernhardt Family History. 



and that she performs her duties conscientiously as well 
as satisfactorily. What would her great-great-grand- 
parents, Heinrich and Rosine, say if they were to come 
back and Lorena could conduct them through this im- 
mense institution and show them the Main College 
Building, Mechanics' Hall, Gymnasium, Horticultural 
Hall, Horticultural Laboratory, Library and Agricul- 
tural Hall, with the College Library of 25,700 bound 
volumes. Domestic Science Hall, Agricultural Hall, 
Physical Science Hall, the great Farm Barn, Dairy 
Barn, Horticultural Barn, and the 544 acres of land de- 
voted to agricultural experiments, the expenses of which 
tests are defrayed by an appropriation of $15,000 every 
year by Congress ? They would be amazed at the con- 
trast of their day with this day, and might be imagined 
to exclaim, "How the world has moved!" 

ii. Lida Ethel^, b. Jan. 22, 1886. In the 1902 catalogue of 
the K. -State Ag. Col. I find her name appears in the list 
of Freshmen. 

Royal Rowland demons enlisted in the cause of the Union on 
the 6th day of September, 1864. On the 15th of October he was 
assigned to Company E of the Ninth N. Y. Heavy Artillery, and 
four days later, on the 19th, in the battle of Cedar Creek, he was 
already initiated into the fearful consequences when hostile armies 
meet and "let slip the dogs of war." In the notes relating to the 
part of Chauncey Wichterman'* (Clarissa^, Jacob^), in the same 
engagement — the kin then had no knowledge of each other — the 
most important details of this great struggle are mentioned. 
Royal was but ten paces from the pike when Sheridan on his big 
Ijlack horse, then white with foam, came rushing through the con- 
fused line of battle, some distance in advance of his staff, and 
heard him shout, "You shall camp on the old camp ground to- 
night." He is also credited with having shouted something very 
uncomplimentary to the Johnnies. His appearance and fierce 
■ardor instantly inspired the men with the same self-reliant spirit, 
.•and when, with fresh confidence, they rushed upon the exulting 
ioe they retrieved the defeat of the morning by gaining a decisive 
and glorious victory. 



c 



-: S 



X - 




h 



Tlic GcrnJiardt Family History. 255 

After the carnage ended, Royal alone ministered to thirteen of 
the seriously wounded, in an old log cabin but a few rods from 
Sheridan's headquarters, from dusk until noon the next day. He 
gathered wood from among the dead and the debris of arms and 
knapsacks and clothes, on the field of slaughter, and made a fire tO' 
make the sufferers as comfortable as he could, and brought them 
water from a spring forty rods distant, to slake their thirst and to 
soothe their wounds. Several had their legs broken, and often had 
to be helped to change their uncomfortable positions on the hard, 
bare floors, with nothing under them but a blanket. One wretched 
comrade was shot through the bowels, and could not raise his head 
but he had to vomit. Another was shot through the bladder, an- 
other through the wrist — the latter suffered most intensely, all the 
time walking the floor and moaning — and every one had an ugly 
wound. All were strangers to Royal, and he has never to this day 
heard of the fate of a single one of the ill-starred thirteen. Thus 
did brave men shed their blood on the sacrificial war-altar of their 
country, for freedom and righteous government, and thus did the 
daring men, whom Fate spared, tenderly care for their hapless 
comrades. Royal had several bullets put through his clothes, but 
he suff'ered no material injury. 

The battalion to which R. R. belonged was detailed to guard 
the 1,400 prisoners taken in the battle — the nearly same number of 
Union soldiers the Confederates had captured in the morning were 
unfortunately not retaken, as they had at once been hurried off the 
field to some place of safety — and the next day his duty was to ac- 
company the captive Johnnies on their first march, destined for 
Point Lookout. They started from Cedar Creek on the 21st and 
marched to the north side of Winchester, seventeen miles, and then 
encamped. At ten o'clock in the evening the order came to fall in 
immediately, and though it was then raining and so pitchy dark 
that nothing a few feet away could be seen, they were hurriedly 
marched eleven miles to Bunker Hill. The cause for this hasty 
night march, it was understood by the rank and file, was to prevent 
Moseby's guerrillas from attempting to free the prisoners. This 
was another dismal war experience that will never be forgotten by 



:256 The Gernhardt Family History. 



Roval and his comrades. It was an intolerably irksome movement 
through mud so deep and slippery that the men often fell pell-mell 
into it, and all were covered with the mire from head to foot. It 
then suddenly grew cold, so that the dirt froze and made their 
clothing disagreeably stiff. After halting five hours at Bunker 
Hill, another hurried march of ten miles took them to Martins- 
burg, where their prisoners were loaded on cars and taken to Bal- 
timore, and thence transported by boat to Point Lookout. 

Two days later the same detachment conveyed a supply train 
of mule teams back in the direction of Winchester, and by way of 
variety had a scrap with Moseby at Bunker Hill, but the foxy 
guerrilla seemed to decide that the detail was able to do its duty 
and only tarried for a short interview. December 5th found the 
Ninth New York with the Sixth Corps again on the fighting line, 
south of Petersburg, being sent there to relieve the Fifth Corps, 
just then starting out on the well-remembered raid to tear up the 
Weldon Railroad, and complicate matters for the Confederates. 
There Royal's regiment did its share of guard and picket duty 
until the taking of Petersburg and the evacuation of Richmond, 
April 2, 1865. Here our kinsman recalls an interesting incident, 
that shows that officers and men sometimes see things in a very 
different light. The first picket was detailed for three days, five 
men and a corporal being stationed at each post along the line. 
The posts were formed of pine brush in the shape of a horseshoe, 
breast high, the inside of the shoe open to the Union lines, three- 
fourths of a mile or less to the rear. The Confederate picket line 
was about 80 rods in front of the posts. One man of each post 
had to stand about 100 steps in front on guard for two hours, and 
was then relieved until his turn came again. The corporal in 
charge of the squad had to post the vidette, and march back to the 
post with the relief. One night when Royal was on picket duty — 
and luckily it was the third and last night for his detail — the com- 
rade on guard imagined he saw some Johnnies sneaking towards 
the picket line, discharged his gun and hastened back to the post. 
All instantly fell back from the fire so they could see better ; but if 
there were any of the rebs about, none could be seen, and it was 



Tlic GcrnJiardt Family History. 257 



decided to be a false alarm. The officer of the day, failing to see 
the advantage of falling back, or too ready to exercise his author- 
ity, put the corporal under arrest for misconduct. The next night 
the enemy surprised five of the Union posts, killed one of the 
guards, and captured twenty-six, because they were compelled to 
stand by their fires and could not see. The censured corporal was 
at once reinstated, and thenceforth the pickets were expected to 
fall back from their fires when assailed. Live and Learn in war 
as well as in peace. 

About March 25th A. P. Hill succeeded in breaking the Union 
line between the Sixth Corps and City Point, by which he obliged 
R. R. and his comrades to go without rations for several meals, 
but there was some satisfaction for this in the capture of about 
2,500 of the adventuresome Confederates, and in keeping Grant's 
lines intact. The picket line of the corps was now advanced, over- 
lapping the enemy's picket line, and pushing up close to his works. 
About the 28th the command broke camp, on the receipt of orders 
to be ready to move at one hour's notice. On the 31st General 
Sheridan fought the battle of Five Forks with a part of Lee's 
army, and made a big haul of 5,000 prisoners. The men of the 
Sixth Corps this day lay on their arms ready to be led into action 
at any moment. They knew that Grant's plans were working 
deftly, and believed that the collapse of the Confederacy must soon 
come. On the following evening, when the shadows of night had 
fallen so as to conceal the movement, they were aligned in four 
lines of battle, ready for the proposed general assault, and lay thus 
on their arms through the night, a vigorous bombardment lacing 
meanwhile kept up on the defensive works around Petersburg, 
now the last great stronghold of the Southern federation, and be- 
fore the break of day on the morning of the 2d of April they 
joined in the great general assault, taking the works in their im- 
mediate front. Many prisoners were taken, six of whom gave 
themselves up to Royal, tired of the war, and not a few completely 
realizing that theirs was a Lost Cause. In little more than a week 
later the Army of Northern Virginia was dispersed, and the deter- 



258 Tlie Gcrnliardt Family History. 

mined but useless struggle to found a government with the "sum 
of all villainies" as a corner-stone, after spreading ruin and desola- 
tion all over the South, was brought to an inglorious end. 

But Royal was once more engaged in a clash of arms, as he 
had a hand on the 6th in the fight at Sailor's Creek, at the time 
when nearly the whole army was in pursuit of the retreating Con- 
federates, who- had not yet agreed to surrender. It was on the 7th 
that Grant sent the first messenger to General Lee, demanding 
a surrender, reminding him that it was clearly evident he was now 
waging a hopeless war. Sheridan, supported by the Second 
Corps, on the 6th attacked Ewell at Sailor's Creek, taking 16 guns, 
400 wagons, and 6,000 prisoners. This was the last hard fight 
before the final surrender. 

Lee still, however, seemed to hope to cut his way through 
the now constantly tightening Union lines — notwithstand- 
ing that since the 29th of March 19,132 of his men had 
been taken prisoners, besides the large number that had been 
killed and wounded, and the many that had during the flight 
slipped from the ranks — but he soon realized that further resist- 
ance was useless, just as Grant had admonished him, and on the 
9th was willing to accept the very lenient terms of surrender 
offered, his army now being reduced to less than 30,000 officers 
and men. Yet on the very morning of the 9th, when he asked 
Grant for an interview in accordance with the terms offered, he 
actually made a move to break through. It was of no use, how- 
ever, and to save his men from a needless sacrifice it was quickly 
abandoned. Sheridan was just getting his men ready for a 
charge, when the white flag was held up, and — Royal did not get 
into another fight. 

2. William Byron Clemons*, b. Sept. 14, 1844; d. Dec. 27, 

1848. 

3. Julius Edgar Clemons^ b. July 19, 1846; m. Miss Helen 

Irene Carter, January, 1872 ; n. c. ; r. Junction City, Kansas. 

Julius enlisted a few days after his brother Royal, and as re- 
cruits they both at the same time joined the same compan} and 



The Gernhardt Family History. 259 

regiment — Co. E., Ninth N. Y. H. A. — in which their cousin, AI- 
manzo W. Litchard, served. The sketch of Royal's service gives 
the important facts of Juhus' mihtary career, as they were together 
in all the marches and engagements therein mentioned. All alike 
had the good fortune to pass through the war unharmed, and have 
lived to see many of the happy results of the triumph of the cause 
for which they fought, and would have given their lives. They 
helped to make the Union a World Power, a mighty and ever 
expanding force for the civilization, freedom and uplifting of 
humanity, that would have been impossible wath a disunited peo- 
ple, ever wrangling over the curse of human bondage. 

4. George Melvin Clemons'*, b. Aug. 20, 1848 ; d. Oct. 30, 

1850. 

5. LuTHENA M. Clemons*, b. March 11. 1850; d. Mav 20, 

1850. 

6. James Elmer Clemons*, b. Nov. i, 185 1 ; m. Mary Kath- 

erine Norman, April 25, 1877: r. Chapman, Kansas; o. 
farmer. One child: Grace Wadleigh°, b. 1884. 

7. Leila Alberta Clemons^ b. Ji^dy 16, 1853 ; m. Samuel S. 

Gaston, Jan. i, 1873; r. Wakefield, Kansas. Three chil- 
dren : 

i. Mi}uiie Myrtle Gaston^, b. Feb. 7, 1874; m. William C. 
Gaston, March 25, 1896. Two children: Ethel 
Gladvs^ b. Jan. 19, 1897; Evelvn Ruth^ b. Dec. 22, 
1897.' 

' a. George JVilliani Gaston^, h. June 9. 1878: m. !Mnry 

Ellen Haden, Nov. 24, 1898. Two children : Warren 
Moore^, b. Oct. i, 1899; Lelia Lorena^, b. Nov. 20, 
1901. 

Hi. Edgar demons Moore Gaston^, b. Sept. 11. 1883. 

8. Adilla Lexora Clemox.s^. b. Oct. 22, 1855 : m. first, Alex- 
ander Gaston, Nov. 20, 1872 ; he d. from injuries received 
by being thrown from a carriage May 4, 1893 : m. second, 
Joseph P. Otis, IMarch 4, 1900 ; r. Clay Centre, Kansas. 
Three children : 

i. IVilliaDi E. Gaston^, b. Dec. 24, 1873 ; d. Nov. 20, 1874. 

/;■. Bertha Agnes Gaston^, b. Feb. 29, 1876; m. Percy 



26o The Gernhardt Family History. 



Batchelor, Oct. 21, 1896; r. Gorman, Kansas. Two 
children: Nerila G.^, b. Oct. 31. 1897; Arthur Percy^ 
b. Jan. 23, 1900. 
Hi. Arthur E. Gaston^, b. Jan. 13, 1878; m. Mary Wright^ 
Jan. I, 1900. 

9. LoRETTA Elsie Clemons*, b. April 10, 1857 ; m. Wellington 
W. Norman, of Orange, Ohio, Oct. 25, 1877; r. Junction 
City, Kansas : Three sons : 

i. Ernest Earl Norman^, b. Jan. 30, 1886. 

a. Emmer Warren Norman^, b. Aug. 18, 1887. 

Hi. Harry C. Norman^, b. Dec. i, 1889. 

10. Martha Luthera Clemons^ b. Oct. 16, 1858; m. Eli N. 
Crayden, March 18, 1882: r. Chapman, Kansas. One 
child: Florence M. C.s, b. May i, 1884. 

11. Clarence Rafaella Clemons*, b. April 16, 1861 ; m. 
Josephine Bisnett, Oct. 2, 1901. 

12. Ernest E. Clemons^, b. Sept. 3, 1863; m. Miss Jennie 
Alpha Loader, Feb. 26, 1896; r. Sultphen, Kansas. Three 
children: Joe Ernstien^, b. May 3, 1897; Ivan Eugene^ b. 
Nov. 17, 1898; Lance Edgar^, b. June 17, 1900. 

IX. HENRYS b.x 1823 ; m. Catharine Ingolson^ ; n. c. He 
d. in Sparta. N. Y., August 27, 1854. 

X. BENJAMIN^, b. Dec. 26, 1826; d. Dec. 26, 1848; unm.. 



VIII. 

BALTZER GARNHART BRANCH. 

BALTZER2, the youngest of Heinrich's four sons, w^as born in 
August, 1785, and was therefore 10 years old when the first family 
of our kin left the birthplace in Northampton County, and was 
just 20 years old at the time of the purchase (1805) of the Sinking 
Springs. In 1808 he married Anna C. Esbach, who was also born 
in Northampton County, and came with her people to Northum- 
berland County in the year 1805. He was living at the Sinking 
Springs with his wife and four children, and managing the farm, 



TJic Gcnihar(.it Family History. 261 

at the time of his father's death (1820), but several years later, 
after the sale of the homestead, bought a i)lace about two or three 
miles north-west of the Springs, where he lived until his death, 
April 1 2th, 1 85 1. He served as the sole executor of the parental 
estate, as neither of the other two named in Heinrich's will could 
conveniently serve. His final account as executor has by some 
means got out of its proper place among the archives of the county 
and was not found, and therefore we canncf? give the particulars 
concerning the estate in which all branches of the family have a 
mutual interest. A brief preliminary report relating to the vendue 
was found, however, but it contained only one item that seemed to- 
me of any real historical significance, viz., an outlay of Ave shillings^ 
for zvhiskey for the yeomanry who- came to the sale. Whether this 
excited the ardor and vivacity of the bidders and made the bid- 
ding more spirited is not now known, but in some cases it probably 
did. It is a fact of history that in that da}' the fiery beverage was a 
free and common provision on all public occasions, even often at 
funerals. An old man, whose memory reached back to tliose days^ 
some years ago made the remark to me that "fhcii the old men did 
most of the drinking, but noiv most of the drinking is done by the 
young men." 

Baltzer was a man of small stature, but sinewy, strong and ac- 
tive, and known as a hard worker. I saw him several times, but 
was then too young to remember much about him. I remember 
well, however, of at various times hearing him spoken of as taking 
great pride in having good, well-fed and well-groomed horses, and 
as being an exceptionally good teamster, who could get a team to 

draw a load that few could induce them to pull. Mr. D , a 

neighbor of his, who was also vain of his horses, one day came 
along the road by Baltzer's place with a heavy load on his wagon, 
and in a bad spot where the ground was soggy got mired. It was 
about noon, when the boys were just coming to the barn with the 
teams. Baltzer, seeing that his esteemed neighbor could not get 
his horses to draw the load, kindly — but evident!}- witli a manner 
betraying his conceit that he had the better team — proposed that 
]\Ii-. D should unhitch, and that he would then hitch on his 



262 The Gernhardt Family History. 



team and get his wagon out of the mire. This touched the sensi- 
tive neighbor's pride, at which he insisted that his own team could 
pull out the wagon with the load if any team could. Baltzer then 
told his boys to put their horses in the barn and feed them. After 
making several more vain efforts to extricate the wagon, the 
owner felt obliged to give up, and then meekly requested Baltzer 
to bring out his team and hitch on to the tongue of the wagon and 
help his tired horses out of the hole. "No," said the imperturba- 
ble Baltzer, "my horses are eating now and I don't care to take 

them away from their feed. But, friend D , I'll tell you what 

I'll do. If you'll let me take your horses in hand I'll soon show 
you that they alone can pull that load out." The subdued and now 
surprised neighbor perhaps thought that this certainly would at 
least not hurt the reputation of his team, as, after hesitating but a 
moment, he agreed to the quite unexpected proposition. Mr. 
Baltzer, after letting the excited and panting beasts cool ofif a lit- 
tle, and giving them some gentle pattings, — and even whispering 
something in their ears, for effect on the owner, if not on the 
horses,' — induced them to make one tremendous and united effort, 
and they actually themselves pulled the wagon out on solid ground. 

Mr. D knew they could do it if any horses could — and Baltzer 

knew what he could do, and he did it. This circumstance was 
often mentioned and chuckled over by the old people who knew 
both men well. 

Baltzer's wife, Anna C. Esbach, survived him eleven years 
(until 1862), but they have now for more than forty years been 
sleeping side by side in the Delaware Run Churchyard, in that last 
deep sleep from which, according to the Christian faith, there has 
as yet been but one final awakening, that of The First-Born from 
the Dead. In the frontispiece view of the old graveyard my right 
hand rests on her tombstone. The centre stone, with the rounded 
top, marks Baltzer's grave. The third of this group of three 
stones marks the resting place of Anna Elizabeth,»who died a spin- 
ster in 1854, and was the third-born of Heinrich's and Rosine's 
children. In the other view of the graveyard, in which the church 



The Gcnihardt Family History. 263 

is seen, the position is reversed, my hand there resting on Anna 
EHzabeth's headstone. Baltzer's and his wife's descendants : 

I. MARY GARNHART3, ]^ j^^^^ j - ^gjo ; m. Samnel Seesx. 
They settled and Hved until their decease on a farm less than one 
mile north of the Sinking Spring, where Mary was born, and about 
the same distance from the old graveyard. She died Oct. 14, 
1846, and Samuel survived her until Sept. 23, 1887. Their chil- 
dren and grandchildren : 

1. Mary Ellen*, d. in infancy. "Leaves have their times 
to fall, and flowers to wither, and stars to set — but thou hast 
all seasons for thine own, O Death !" 

2. William H. Sees-, b. Aug. 23, 1835 ; m. Elizabeth ^IcCoy, 

of Freeport, Ills., Dec. 25, i860. He d. Jan. 23, 1895. 

Last r. Montgomery City, Mo. Had children : 

i. Mary Ellen Sees^, b. May 30, 1862. 

ii. George McCoy See^, b. June 30, 1864; m. Lorena Rob- 
inson, Sept. 5, 1897. One daughter: Madaline Far- 
rel'^, b. July 6, 1900. 

Hi. Georgianna Sees^, h. April 28, 1866. 

iv. Carrie Elisabeth Sces^, b. May 7, 1868. 

V. William W. Sees^, b. Nov. 3, 1871 ; m. Blanche Sabourin, 
Dec. 22, 1897. One daughter: Lela Ruth Sees*', b. 
Oct. 24, 1898. 

3. Jacob Sylvester Sees*, b. April 15, 1837 ; m. first, Elizabeth 

R. Berry, Dec. 24, 1861 ; she d. Sept. 3, 1874; m. 
second, Rosa J. Wenker, July 2y, 1876. Jacob was a miller 
by occupation for many years, but is at present farming the 
homestead farm, which is still held by the heirs. His 
issue : 

i. Carrie Mabel'', h. July 29, 1862; m. N. D. Welshans, of 
Limestone Township, Lycoming County, Pa. Has had 
nine children: William Dell W.^ b. July ii, 1887; 
Gordon Nelson«, b. Oct. 27, 1888; Walter'', b. Feb. 19, 
1890 — d. in infancy; Madge Byrl^ b. May 24. 1891 ; 
Jacob Sees*', b. Aug. 20, 1893; Abraham'', b. Feb. 20, 
1895 — d. in infancy; James Trevette''. b. May 28, 189S 
— d. in infancy ; Steward W.^ b. July 2^, 1900 ; Torance 
Lakne^ b. July 28, 1902. 



:264 The Gcnihardt Family History. 



a. Samuel Syli'ester^, b. Feb. 3, 1864; m. Gertrude Tri- 

blesx. 
Hi. Harry Barney^, b. May 2, 1866. 
iv. Blanche Iva^, b. Sept. 15, 1868; m. Bert Weaver; r. 

Newberry, Pa. 
V. Elisabeth^, b. Oct. 13, 1870; m. Michael K. Tomb^. 
vi. William Torrence^, b. June 11, 1873 ; m. Verner Confer, 

of Newberry, Pa., April 24, 1902. 

vii. Pearl Wenker^, b. Sept. 20, 1878. 

4. John B. Sees*, b. June 22, 1840; m. Caroline Smith, Feb. 
18, i860; r. two miles east of Strawberry Ridge, Montour 
County, Pa. ; o. farmer. 

John has a war record abounding with many interesting inci- 
dents, of which limited space will permit a brief notice of but a 
few. He enlisted February 18, 1864, for three years or during the 
war ; was mustered into the service a week later as a recruit of Co. 
D, Seventh Reg't Penn'a Vol. Cavalry, and was discharged by 
reason of close of the war, August 23, 1865. Being well ac- 
quainted with several members of this compau}' from the neigh- 
borhood of Muncy, who are still living — and one of them, Silas 
Snyder, was John's messmate, and often drank with him out of the 
5ame canteen — I have had opportunity to acquaint myself with 
the part that he and his comrades took in the campaign in which 
they together served. The Seventh Penn'a Cavalry served chiefly 
as a part of Gen. Minty's Brigade of the Second Division, Cavalry 
Corps, Army of the Cumberland. John B. Sees participated in 
the engagements at Rome, Dallas, or New Hope Church, Big 
Shanty, Kenesaw Mountain, McAfee's Cross-Roads, Lead's Cross- 
Roads, and Columbus, all in Georgia; at Bardstown in Kentucky, 
and at Plantersville and Selma in Alabama, besides having a hand 
in various lively raids and skirmishes with, guerrillas and bush- 
wackers. For some time he served every third day of the week 
on detached duty as a courier from General Eli Long's headquar- 
ters. April 2, 1865, he rejoined his regiment just in time to share 
in the important battle of Selma, a stronghold that was defended 
by works of the most formidable character, where the Second Di- 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 265 

vision met with the fearful loss of twenty-five per centum of its 
men and officers in killed and wounded. ]\Iinty's already de- 
pleted brigade led the advance of the division of 1,550 men and 
officers on the main road to Selma, and was conspicuous for its 
gallantry and impetuosity throughout the engagement. In charg- 
ing the enemy's works it was necessary to cross an open space of 
some distance where the division was exposed to a tremendous 
raking fire of musketry and artillery, entailing a heavy loss in 
killed and wounded. In the commanding General's official report 
every officer of the Seventh Pennsylvania was complimented by per- 
sonal mention, and was afterwards brevetted for signal service in 
the taking of Selma. Minty in his report said that "every officer 
and soldier performed his duty so well and so nobly" that it was 
difficult for him to make any special mention. The assault of 
Selma by the cavalry, then dismounted of course, was one of the 
most daring in the history of this or any otlier war. The rebel 
works consisted of an abatis of fallen trees, the limbs of which 
pointed outward and were each sharpened to a minute point — then 
came a space of 500 or more feet planted with torpedoes, and stud- 
ded with barricades made of pointed stakes leaning outward and 
interlaced with wire — then a palisade higher than a man could 
reach, made of logs standing on end and extending a number of 
feet into the ground, and the tops united by stringers and sur- 
mounted with wires ; the entire palisade being provided with loop- 
holes, controlling the approaches, and a platform inside on which 
the first line of the enemy awaited the assaulting column — and 
then beyond all this yet was a ditch about five feet deep, and then 
a line of earthworks higher than a man, and at intervals strong 
forts with bombproofs, etc., mounted with light and heavy gims 
commanding every foot of the ground, and manned by men whose 
valor and determination will never be in question. Think of men 
attacking and actually capturing such elaborate works, and yet the 
majority escaping with life and limb ! Hardly a man of the Sev- 
enth who did not have bullet holes in his clothing, while the car- 
bines in the hands of many were hit and broken to pieces. John 
B. says he can't explain how he got through, but he retains a vivid 



266 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

recollection of coming out of the melee unharmed. If the John- 
nies had not wasted the bulk of their powder, lead and iron, he 
doubts if any one would have come out alive. 

Another fearful carnage John remembers was at Kenesaw 
]\Iountain, where the rebels had intrenched themselves in a strong 
position by nature, from which they repulsed and inflicted great 
loss on Sherman's assaulting columns. Sherman admits that he 
met with a defeat here, but it was really only a temporary reverse. 
In his official report he says : "I perceived that the enemy and 
our own officers had settled down into a conviction that I would 
not assault fortified lines. All looked to me to 'outflank.' * * * 
Failure as it was, and for which I assume the entire responsibility, 
I yet claim it produced good fruits, as it demonstrated to General 
Johnston that / zvould assault, and that boldly ; and we also gained 
and held ground so close to the enemy's parapets that he could not 
show a head above them." When the Seventh Cavalry was mov- 
ing with Minty's brigade from the centre to the extreme left of 
the Union army, on the last day's fighting in front of Kenesaw, 
and while passing Siegel's infantry corps, John saw a long line oi 
the enemy rolling great masses of rock down the steep sides of the 
mountain from the crest, four hundred feet high, on our unpro- 
tected troops along the base. The batteries of artillery on the top 
of the ridge, from which every movement of the Union troops 
could plainly be seen, at the same time fired at the passing cavalry, 
the noise of which mingled strangely with the incessant musketry 
and rattle and clatter of the bouncing and whirling rocks, but their 
aim, owing to the steepness of the face of the mountain, was for- 
tunately too high to do much harm. The clamor and excitement 
cannot be described. Pandemonium reigned — in fact had been 
reigning for days and weeks, and kept on reigning. Johnston saw 
that he was not only "boldly" assaulted, but that he was again be- 
ing boldly flanked, so he soon evacuated his strong position, and 
Kenesaw was won, and both armies had been taught an important 
lesson. Sherman would assault, and that boldly ! 

Sees, like all the kindred who saw active service during the 
eventful era of the great Rebellion, had experiences that would 



The Gernhardt Family History. 267 



make interesting reading in our family history — and of which our 
kindred of the future will no doubt wish that I had collated manv 
more. For instance, when marching through Georgia he and his 
messmate, Snyder, were one day dispatched from General Long's 
headquarters with a message to Captain McBurney, who was then 
in charge of the wagon train. On returning to headquarters with 
their receipted envelopes — the envelopes, by the way, in which the 
dispatches were usually carried were always endorsed by the offi- 
cers receiving them, the time of receipt noted, and then returned to 
the bearers, and carefully guarded by them as evidence that they 
had performed their duty — they ventured to turn aside to the build- 
ings of a large plantation to see what they could find in tlie way 
of commissary supplies. The premises had already been so com- 
pletely looted that, as Sees himself said when I interviewed him, 
"not even a feather could be found." The cattle had all been 
killed, and nothing remained of them but their bones, hides and 
entrails, which were scattered over the ground all around tlie 
buildings — a sight that had already become familiar to them, as 
the country was thus pillaged and made to pay tribute to the 
Union army for many miles on each side of the line of march. 
They entered a pigpen, and there also they found that hungry com- 
rades had just preceded them and helped themselves in the same 
unsparing way. They were about to give up the search when they 
discovered several pigs' heads that they concluded had been for- 
gotten, and these they hurriedly got ready for rapid transporta- 
tion, as they were not expected to loiter on their wa\-,by running 
strings through the lower jaws to secure them to their saddles. 
Just as they were ready to mount with their valued contraband of 
war a squad of superior officers and their orderlies rode up to 
them, and one in a voice of stern sovereignty that startled them 
demanded, "What are you men doing here ?" "Looking for some- 
thing to eat," said Sees, as composedly as he could, as he met and 
almost cowered under the penetrating glance of the austere officer, 
whom he had no recollection of having ever seen. "To what com- 
mand do you belong?" "To General Long's." replied Sees, too 
much flustered just then to think of further explanation. "Mount, 



268 The Gcrnhardt Family History. 

and fall in under guard with my orderly," said the officer, evidently 
thinking there was something wrong in their being so far away 
from their command. As they were in the act of obeying the 
mandate the officer observed the pigs' heads, and added, "Go back 
and get your meat." When they had picked up their porcine tro- 
phies, the next command was, "Mount," and next instant "For- 
ward" — the now uneasy suspects and the orderlies falling in at 
the rear. The guard, after riding a short distance in silence, asked 
the supposed stragglers, or possibly suspected deserters, how they 
came to be so far away from their commands. "We are couriers 
from General Long's headquarters sent with a dispatch to Capt. 
McBurney in charge of the wagon train, and were just on our way 
back." "Why didn't you say so to the General?" "That's so! 
Why didn't we? Didn't just happen to think of that. Say, or- 
derly, who is that officer?" "That is General Sherman, in com- 
mand of the Army of the Cumberland." "Good heavens !" in- 
wardly exclaimed the alarmed dispatch bearers, and presently 
turning to Snyder, Sees whispered, "We are in for it now, and will 
not see our camp this night." A moment later the orderly gal- 
loped forward and told the General what the captives said, upon 
which the Chief instantly halted and commanded them to ride for- 
ward, and demanded to see their receipt from Capt. McBurney. 
Turning to his stafif, as if glad to be relieved of an unpleasant sus- 
picion, he said, "These men are all right," and in a much kinder 
tone ordered them to fall in again. Coming to a cross-road by 
and by, the General paused, and in a wholly changed manner gave 
the couriers kindly admonition in regard to the danger of lingering 
so near the enemy's line, and the duty of returning immediately to 
headquarters to report after delivering dispatches, then told them 
to follow the road to the right, as it would take them direct to 
General Long's headquarters, and as they turned their horses to 
obey, delighted them still more by saying in a very friendly man- 
ner, "Good-bye, boys." "Snyder," said Sees, first breaking the 
silence, as the great commander and his staff were disappearing 
from sight, "If I ever have another boy, his name shall be William 
Sherman." His next was a girl, but number 4 is a boy and now 



Tlic Cicrnhardt Family History. 269 

bears the honored name of the Hero who led the famous March to 
the Sea. 

More instances of inhumanity and suffering occurred during 
the great Civil War than could be faithfully told in a hundred vol- 
umes. War is always and unavoidably more or less an occupation 
of cruelty, and was again so to a great extent when waged by the 
Unionists for peace, freedom, civilization and the Union. But the 
Secessionists commenced the war, seized forts, arsenals, mints, 
arms, clothing, custom-houses, and everything else belonging to 
the general government that hands could be laid on, and, as Gen- 
eral Sherman naively told the complaining Mayor and City Coun- 
cil of Atlanta: "I, myself, have seen in Missouri, Kentucky, Ten- 
nessee and Mississippi, hundreds and thousands of women and 
children fleeing from your armies and desperadoes, hungry and 
with bleeding feet" — and now they could realize that war is cruel 
when they had to take some of their own bitter medicine. The fol- 
lowing incident is a fair illustration of the hartlessness and desti- 
tution that usually follows in the wake of war. After the battle of 
Atlanta a poor woman stood by the roadside near a small house 
the Second Division was passing, and hailing General Long, she 
begged him to leave a guard to protect a small pa,tch of potatoes, 
as she had been dispossessed of everything else that could be eaten, 
and now had only the few potatoes left to keep herself and family 
of little children from starving. Long instantly and gladly di- 
rected his adjutant to detach a man from the escort to guard the 
potato patch, with strict orders to allow no man to enter it or the 
house, and tO' shoot an}- one who attempted to do so in defiance of 
orders. To John B. Sees was assigned the duty of remaining be- 
hind to defend the woman's potatoes and home while the command 
was passing. All went well enough until tlie rear guard came up. 
The officer in command of the last detachment asked Sees what he 
was doing there, and where he belonged ? Presuming him to be 
merely loitering behind to steal, or possibly to desert, the officer 
demanded to see his orders. "My order was a verbal command 
from General Long," said Sees. The captain of the guard did not 
believe this and immediately placed him under arrest — after which 



270 The Gernhardt Family History. 

the men raided the potato patch, and soon the helpless woman and 
her little ones were by the hard-hearted soldiers deprived of their 
last rations. The woman earnestly interceded, insisting that the 
guard had been left there by Long at her own urgent request, and 
in tears she implored that the potatoes might be spared for her 
children, but her tears and entreaties were all in vain. The ofhcer 
even seemed tO' think that he had done a clever thing, and with a 
chuckle of self-assurance, as he and his men moved on, said, "We 
will take the game to General Long and have it plucked." Sees 
was not at all uneasy, kept perfectly cool, and said not a word, con- 
fident that General Long would not be hard on the blameless game. 
On reaching headquarters the captain of the guard commanded his 
prisoner to dismount and hand over his sabre and revolvers — his 
carbine being suspended to the saddle. When he marched him 
into the presence of the General, however, he soon learned to his 
dismay that he had bagged game tliat he should not have fooled 
with. The General, after a few words, understood the whole pro- 
ceeding, and peremptorily ordered the indiscreet officer to hand 
back Sees' sabre and revolvers and reinstate him forthwith. He 
then said : "Captain, I -have almost a mind to reduce you to the 
ranks. Your conduct is a disgrace to our army. You will take 
ofif your stripes, and consider yourself relieved from duty until 
further orders." Some little time elapsed before he was rein- 
stated. Sees got ofif with a mere formal and mild reprimand for 
not having saved the potato patch — his frank plea was that he 
thought he did not dare resist the rear guard when he was placed 
under arrest — but he had all the satisfaction he wanted when he 
saw the mortified captain standing around for more than a week 
without his stripes and with nothing to do or say. 

Sees was fortunate to escape bodily injury by sabre, bullet and 
shell, in all the various bloody conflicts in which he was engaged, 
but just as the war was coming to an end he met with a painful 
accident while he and a portion of the Seventh Cavalry were on 
the trail of Jefif Davis' escort that, as afterwards learned, was 
making ofif with the gold from the Confederate Treasury, done up 
in boxes as cartridges and marked "ammunition." This was but 



TJic GcniJiardt Family History. 271 



a day or two before the capture of Davis and a number of his partv 
by the Fourth Michigan Cavalry, one of the regiments of the Sec- 
ond Division, on the tenth of May, 1865. Sees' horse stumbled as 
he was riding with his detachment tlirongh the woods and threw 
him with some force against a tree, fracturing three of the ribs of 
liis left side, and spraining an ankle. He remained in the com- 
pany camp, under the kindly care of his messmate, Snyder, but 
was not again fit for duty for seven weeks. But then no further 
active service was required of him, ns there were no more battles 
fought, and no more forced marches made in pursuit of the en- 
emy, after the collapse of the Confederacy. The Seventh Penn- 
sylvania Cavalry, after the disbanding of the brigade, proceeded 
to Eufaula, Alabama, and remained there until about the middle of 
August, when it returned to Harrisburg and was there discharged. 
Sees thinks that the Fourth Michigan Cavalry justly received the 
reward of one hundred thousand dollars awarded by the United 
States government for the capture of Davis, but claims that the 
Seventh Pennsylvania Cavalry was also in the chase after the Pres- 
ident of the so-called Confederate States of America, and rendered 
important service in getting him in the position to be captured, and 
that he will never forget that he himself got a sprained ankle and 
had three ribs fractured in the memorable pursuit. The govern- 
ment, he says, has not forgotten him, however, as he is receiving 
six dollars- a month pension. 

My acquaintance with my second cousins, John B. and Jacob 
Sees, commenced — the reader will remember that I said I lived to 
be gray-headed without knowing many of my kindred : a thing not 
at all unusual, however, as every gray-headed member of the fam- 
ilv must sav the same — in the autumn of the year 1900, when 1 
made a brief visit to the home of Jacob, near the Sinking Spring, 
in Deleware Township, the place already mentioned. John had 
come over from his farm in Montour County, about fifteen miles 
distant, to help Jacob husk his com, and I found llie brotherly 
brothers out in a big field busy and happy pulling the golden ear-s 
out of their husks. They had heard of the proposed Family HJis- 
torv, and as soon as the introduction was through witb. were as 



272 The Gernhardt Family History. 

eager as myself for a confabulation. Jacob improvised a seat of 
fodder on which we sat down together in a row, I in the middle, 
with pencil and pad to record whatever data they could give me 
from memory, to be completed later on. John had to rub up his 
memory somewhat to recall the full names of all his children, and 
give the order in which they had come to enliven his home, help 
his wife in the house and him on the farm, drop corn, plant pota- 
toes, gather the apples, as he had been blessed with many more 
than the average family quota. He got along fairly well until he 
had named ten, when he had to study a moment to think of the 
eleventh, but when he had finally recalled the twelfth he could not 
think of any more. He was bothered: — just as completely as when 
General Sherman found him at the pigpen. Jacob had been help- 
ing him as he proceeded with the enumeration, and now looking 
over the list declared, "Jo^''"> it seems to me that you have left some 
out." John guessed not, but not being altogether positive he re- 
flected a moment longer, when, witih undisguised gratification, he 
thought of one more and exclaimed, "Oh ! Goodness Gracious ! 
yes, I come to think I have a boy out in Michigan." The boy is 
again in his native state, and was only out of mind for a little 
while. 

John B.'s family : 

i. Robert M. S.^, b. May 30, 1862; m. Mary Barchman^ ; 
one child : John Herberf^. 

a. Joseph G. S.^, b. January, 1864; m. Martha D. Derr, 
Aug. 19, 1888; r. Jerseytown, Pa. Four children: 
Nevin Burdette^, b. Sept. 25, 1895 ; Mary Hazel^, b. 
March 6, 1896; Lorenza Guy^, b. March 13, 1899; Jo- 
seph Wilbur^, b. May 22, 1902. 

Hi. Ida May S.^, b. May 22, 1866; m. Amandas W. Stamm, 
Nov. 13, 1884; r. Millville, Pa. Ten children: Clar- 
ence Edward*^, b. Oct. 26, 1885; Bessie May^ b. Nov. 
26, 1886; Annie Caroline^ b. April 27, 1888; Grace 
Pearis, b. Aug. 21, 1890; Hattie Bertha*^, b. March 13, 
1891 ; Blanche Olive^, b. May 14, 1894 ; John Daniel^, b. 
April 18, 1896; George Allen^, b. Oct. 11, 1897; Cora 
May6, b. June 9, 1899; Paul Leon^, b. May 18, 1901. 



TJic Gcrnliardt Family History. 273 



iv. IVilliaui Sherman S}, b. Sept. 29, 1868; m. Florence 
Lillian Williams, Jan. 30, 1894; r. Jerseytown, Pa.; o. 
carpenter. Two children : Helen Gladys^, b. Sept. 17, 
1894; Myron L.<5, b. May 11, 1898. 

V. Edzcard Charles Sees^, h. June 22, 1870; r. W'atsontovvn, 
Pa. 

vi. Bertha Madge S.^, b. Feb. 10, 1872 ; m. Charles F. Wil- 
liams, Aug. 20, 1897; r. Watsontown, Pa. Three chil- 
dren: Victor Leon*^, b. May 15, 1898; Florence 
Madge^ b. July 18, 1899 ; Meda Fao", b. Oct. 8, 1900. 

z'ii. Abraham Smith Secs^, h. March 20, 1874; r. Watson- 
town, Pa. Enlisted in the Spanish-American War Aug". 
25, 1899, and served as a private in Co. L, 28th Reg't 
U. S. V. Infantry, until May i, 1901. Participated in 
the engagements at Puent Julian, Pasmarinos, Headwa- 
ters of Zapote River, Binan, Santa Rosa, San Antonia, 
and San Pedro Tunasan. The nearest he came to be- 
ing harmed was to have two bullets pass through his 
hat, which he thought close enough, but was sick and 
confined to the hospital several times with malarial 
fever. In a letter he wrote home while at Binan he thus 
gives his impression of the Philippine warriors : 

'Tn a paper sometime ago I saw that the people in the United 
States think the soldiers are killing these natives in cold blood, but 
I want to say such is not the case. People who talk like that know 
nothing except what they read in the papers. The trouble with 
the Americans is that they are too easy with these Phili])pinos. If 
you give them your finger they want your whole body. They are 
friends in the day time, but as soon as it begins to get dark they 
change from friend to enemy. They know nothing about civ- 
ilized warfare. All they know is to watch for small detachments 
of men and ambush them. That is the only way they get our ritles. 
If they were to come out and fight a fair battle tliere would not 
be enough left of them to tell what became of the rest. It seems 
hard to see good American soldiers give their lives for t-liis 
heathen country." 

Abe's impressions were formed under conditions that brought 
to his view the worst side of the Philippino character. The same 
things mav be as truly said of all savage or half-savage people, 
who know little or nothing of civilized warfare. Even hero in 



274 The Gernhardt Family History. 



civilized America people have been quite as barbarous. Think of 
the thousands v^ho were spitefully starved to death in the wretched 
pen at Andersonville ! Think of the terrible massacre at Fort Pil- 
low, where neither sick, nor age, nor sex, nor color was spared, 
but with the heartless cry of "No quarter," all were hacked to 
death and coolly shot down in the most barbarous manner — and of 
the atrocious slaughter at Lawrence, Kansas, by the infamous 
rebel, Quantrell, and his band of murderers. Think how the 
Southern troops at Manassas — many of whom were poor whites 
hardly half civilized, and almost as void of honor and humane ! 
feelings as savages — inhumanly treated and buried our dead, and ■ 
took their skulls and bones and made them intio cups and trinkets 
for souvenirs. There was more of the savage element even in 
the Union army than we like to admit, but it was kept under : 
greater restraint. The rank and file of the Union army was made 1 
up of a more intelligent class, less vindictive, more scrupulous as \ 
to the modern rules of war, who went forth to fight for Freedom i 
and not for Slavery. It is agreeable to be told by soldiers de- 
scended from Heinrich Gernhardt that it is false that the Ameri- | 
cans were guilty of killing the Philippines in cold blood. There : 
seems to have been a persistent effort to falsify and exaggerate the 
conduct of our troops in the Philippines. It does indeed seem i 
hard that good men must give their lives for the heathen. But the , 
result will be to make the heathen race better. The uplifting efifect 
is already manifest. It seemed very hard that so many good men \ 
had to die for the Union. And have the world's martyrs, soldiers j 
and missionaries, in all the ages died in vain? Even Christ died | 
for sinful man. And it was He who said, "Greater love hath no i 
man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends." ! 

via. Sarah Jane^, b. April 21, 1876 ; d. July 25, 1880. ; 

ix. Mary Ellen^, b. Dec. 29, 1879. | 

X. John A.^, h. April 21, 1882. | 

xi. Curtis E.^, b. Oct. 11, 1884. 
xii. Hozvard^, b. June 9, 1886. 
xiii. Fanny M}, b. Nov. 18, 1888. 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 275 

5. Robert Dunn Sees*, b. May 13, 1841 ; m. Ethvinna \'an- 
duzer, of Saline, Mich., May 12, i86g; r. Grand Rapids, 
Michigan ; o. cabinetmaker. Two children : 

i. Cora Elincr S.'°, b. March 20, 187 1 ; m. Clarence W. 
Clark, Oct. 15, 1891. Two children: Doris Isabel'\ b. 
Nov. 27, 1896; Randall Edwin"', b. Sept. 11, 1899. 

a. Guy De Forest S.^, b. Jan. 12, 1874. 

Robert D. Sees was a member of Co. B, 131st Reg't, P. \^. I., 
the same regiment to which his second cousin, Jeremiah E. Baker 
(of Co. H), belonged, but the young soldiers had then no knowl- 
edge of their kinship, and were in fact not at all acquainted. Thev 
were together in the same wearisome marches, in the heat and in 
cold, in rain and in mud, stood in the same line of battle and fought 
the same enemy, and saw the same thrilling and sickening sights, 
all unconscious of each other's existence. It is needless to repeat, 
therefore, what has already been said of Antietam, Sharpsburg, 
Fredericksburg and Chancellorsville, in the account of Comrade 
Baker's service. Robert D. S. was very fortunate to serve his full 
term of enlistment without being wounded — was once, however, 
sick and laid up in the hospital for two weeks, shortly after the 
battle of Fredericksburg — and was mustered out with his company 
at Harrisburg on the 24th day of May, 1863. 

In response to a request to give the compiler an account of his 
army life, Robert wrote: "It has been such a long time, I cannot 
remember much." Old soldiers are much inclined to make such 
remarks, but when the movements and conflicts in which they 
shared are the subjects of conversation they are very apt to liven 
up and chime in by saying, "that reminds me," and then give an 
interesting narration of some scene or incident of which they are 
thus reminded. If the writer could have had a personal interview 
with Robert, as was had with his brother, John B.. the member of 
Co. B of the 131st would no doubt have been "reminded" of some 
things worthy of being recorded in this I'^amily History. He 
briefly mentioned that on the night after the disastrous repulse 
from the height at Fredericksburg he was detailed with six others 
of his companv to gather up the wounded, and tlic\- were thus 



276 TJic Gcrnhardt Family History. 

humanely engaged until midnight, a perilous duty in which they 
made a number of very narrow escapes, as the rebel batteries kept 
right on shelling the field, being no doubt apprehensive of a night 
assault. "Our dead some places lay three deep," said he, and "we 
saw some horrible sights.'' Never can any one forget the melan- 
choly impression that such a direful scene is sure to make. May 
the American Union never forget the sacrifices made by the brave 
men who fought on such bloody fields for its preservation. 

And indeed the great sacrifice and noble service will never be 
forgotten. A beautiful and well-kept National Cemetery now 
occupies the height up which our kinsmen, Sees and Baker, and 
the gallant 131st in battle array charged, with the division under 
General Humphrey, which headed the column of assault and met 
with such a fearful loss and repulse. Most of the men who died 
in the vain attempt to take it by storm now occupy it in peaceful 
repose in the grateful Nation's fair necropolis ; and many of the 
loyal and brave who' gave their lives in the battles of the Wilder- 
ness, Spottsylvania and Chancellorsville, are there at rest with 
them. The total number of these honored Union martyrs in the 
cemetery is 15,257. Of these 2,487 are known, but the startling 
number of 12,770 are among the lamented "unknown." The 
graves made after the carnage had as far as possible been care- 
fully marked, but when the enemy a few days later reoccupied 
the city all the headboards were ruthlessly destroyed. The names 
of the dead, however, are preserved in the rosters of their regi- 
ments ; the records show how they fell in the best cause that was 
ever subject to the arbitrament of war; and their families — and 
the soldiers who were disabled in the struggle — have from year 
to year been reminded, though far from compensatied, by a be- 
holden and thankful government that none are forgotten and are 
really "unknown." 

6. Caroline Sees*, b. Sept. 23, 1846, only three weeks before 
her mother died; m. Abraham Page, Dec. 28, 1865; r. 
Syracuse, N. Y. Six children : 

i. Samuel Sces^, h. Oct. 6, 1866; d. at Saratoga Springs, 
N. Y., Dec. II, 1891. 



V. 













The Gcrnhardt Family History. 2yy 



a. Mary Elimbeth S.^, b. Feb. 8, 1869. 

Hi. Hattie Neiivilla S.^\ b. June 29. 1872 ; m. S. F. \'annos- 

trand, Nov. 30, 1897; r. Syracuse. One child: 

George Page V.^, b. Oct. 5, 1898. 

iv. Oliver Oscar S.^, h. April 25, 1874; d. Alay 6, 1874. 

V, Helen May S.^, b. Jan. 6, 1876 ; ni. William Adam Rich, 
Dec. 4, 1900. 

z'i. Kirby Clinton^, h. May 6. 1879. 



IL JOHN GARNHART3, 5 ^j^rch 12. 181 2. on the Sinking 
Springs Homestead ; m. first, Louise J. Moritz, June 30, 1833 ; she 
d. Sept. 23, 1861 ; m. second, Margaret Parsons. July 4, 1862. Mi- 
grated with his family to Ogle County, Illinois, in the fall of 1849, 
and was the only one of Baltzer's children who moved away from 
the neighborhood in which he was born. Owned a very desirable 
farm of 216 acres in Marion Township, on which he resided until 
1870, when he moved to Rockford, Winnebago County, ill., where 
he died July 26th, 1876. Had eight children: 

1. Charles Williams Garnhart"^, b. Aug. 27, 1834 ; m. Caro- 

line Lilley, Sept. 9, 1861 ; r. Stillman Valley, 111. ; o. farmer. 

Three sons : 

i. Laurence Delmer^, b. Nov. 17, 1863; m. Carrie ^1. Ly- 
man, Sept. 19, 1888: r. Shell Lake, Wis. One son: 
Harry W.", b. Jan. 8, 1890. 

ii. William Henry^, b. May 13, 1866. 

in. Clarence Walker^, b. Feb. 25, 1870. 

2. Henry Clay Garnhart'*, b. Oct. 3. 1836; m. Olive M. 

Winchell, of Laporte, Ind., Oct. 11, i860. He d. at White 
Rock, 111., Oct. 23, 1868. Tliree children : 
i. Louisa Ellen G.^, b. Aug. 4, 1861 ; d. April. 1863. 
ii. Carrie May G.^, b. July 7. 1863 ; m. Thomas W. Young- 
er, April 24, 1895 ; r. Chicago. Three children : Os- 
borne G. Y.6, b. Jan. zy, 1896: Olive Elizabeth Y.^ b. 
Nov. 27, 1897; Helen Y.^. b. Jan. iS. 1899. 
Hi. Ernest Smith G.^, b. Dec. 3, 1865 ; d. Dec. 15, 1868. 

3. George Washington Garnhart^ b. Dec. 13. 1838: m. 
Ellen J. Moore, Nov. 17. 1863: r. Oregon. 111. iMlucatetl 



278 The Gernhardt Family History. 

at Franklin College, Ind. Taught school several years, 

then became a farmer. Served as clerk of School Board 

many years. Three children ; 

i. Deivitt C.^, b. Feb. 14, 1865; d. Oct. 21, 1894. 

a. Walter W.^, b. Dec. 10, 1866. 

Hi. Ahvilda E.^, b. April 20, 1872. 

4. David Porter Garnhart'^, b. April 4, 1841 ; m. Matilda C. 
Miller, Nov. i, 1866; r. near Freeport, 111. ; o. farmer. Six 
children : 

i. Henry Allen^, b. July i, 1871 ; m. Fannie Kornhaus, Feb. 
27, 1895; r.in Marion County, Kansas. . 

ii. Maurice O. G.^, b. Jan. 2, 1878; m. Emma Renner, Oct. 
18, 1899; r. Loran Gap, 111. One daughter: Elizabeth 
Katharine^, b. April 25, 1902. 

Hi. Alvira M.^, h. July i, 1880. 

iv. Eva M.5, b. Oct. 13, 1882. 

V. Orrin C.^, b. April 20, 1885. 

vi. Glenn G.^, b. May 5, 1892. 

David P. enlisted under the Old Flag Aug. 12, 1862, and 
served in Co. H of the 92d Reg't 111. V. Infantry, until discharged, 
June 2, 1865. He fought in thirty-three battles, and in some of 
the bloodiest, as at Chickamauga and Resaca, but was so fortunate 
as to escape without a scratch. The fortunes of war seem to be 
as variable and capricious as the wind. The strange thing is not 
that many get killed and maimed, but that the greater number 
usually escape unharmed. Think of armies battling fiercely for 
hours and days, and charging and counter-charging, and shells 
and shot and bullets filling the air sometimes almost as thick as 
the flakes of snow in a winter storm, and yet the majority escap- 
ing without a scratch. And favored certainly is the man who 
goes through tihirty-three battles without a hurt. 

The battle of Chickamauga is especially impressed on David's 
memory. It was in this great struggle that Wilder's division, to 
which the 92d Illinois belonged, and Colonel Minty's cavalry bri- 
gade, fighting dismounted, to which his cousin, John B. Sees, be- 
longed, sustained the weight of the shock on tihe first day, when 






oo tC 



•^ 2? 



00 — 

oc — 




^ 




BENJAMIN GAKNlJAini, MrNCV, I'A. 
1.S16-1894. 



Tlic GcrnJiardt Family History. 279 



the Confederate army under Bragg undertook by a furious rush 
to crush the Union center under General Thomas. Wilder and 
Minty had aligned their forces behind rail barricades, from which 
they coolly poured on the enemy, when he had approached within 
thirty or forty yards, a deliberate and most terrific, continuous, 
death-dealing fire with their repeating Spencer rifles, and after 
repelling him a number of times in about two hours' time, com- 
pelled him to withdraw. These doughty brigades thus remained 
in position on the front line, ready at any moment for a renewal 
of the ■assault, until four o'clock the next morning, when they 
were relieved by General Palmer's division, to which our plucky 
juvenile kinsman, Nathan Kinman, belonged and carried a gun 
and a knapsack. Both armies during the night prepared for a 
still bigger fight, and the next day one of the great battles of the 
war was fought. Taken all in all, it ma\- not be claimed as a pos- 
itive victory for the Union army, which barely escaped meeting 
with a great disaster ; and neither was it a triumph for Bragg, who 
lost Chattanooga by it, and two-thirds of his army. But to Gen- 
eral Thomas, who did the hardest fighting, it is conceded to have 
resulted in a splendid victory, and it was here that he won his well- 
deserved sobriquet of "The Rock of Chickamauga." 

The soldier's life in camp is made up of many kinds of experi- 
ences, not often so unpleasant to dwell on as the details of human 
slaughter. After the battle of Chickamauga David was detailed on 
special duty, and was sent into camp on the north side of the Ten- 
nessee River. Having nothing to eat for several days but grated 
corn, he and one of the detail sallied out one day to forage for 
something they thought better. Seeing some hogs in a field, 
David proposed that they would have some fresh pork for a 
change. They tied their horses, shot one of the hogs, dragged it 
into the shade under a tree, and proceeded to skin and dress it. 
They had not quite finished when the owner suddenly confronted 
and surprised them — "a stately woman." said David, "as tall and 
slender as a fence rail." She complained that it was hartl for her 
to lose her hogs, and they murmured that it was harrl for them to 
live on grated corn. After some further parley she insisted that 



28o The Gernhardt Family History. 



they should divide the carcass with tilie Johnnies, and that they 
might keep the head and the entrails. They meekly agreed to 
consider the suggestion, but — they divided the carcass with their 
own better-appreciated and more-appreciative messmates. 

5. Mary Katharine Garnhart^, b. May 5, 1843 ! ^- William 
Wallace Walters, March 14, 1866. He d. Aug. 24, 1895 ; 
r. Rockwell City, Iowa. Six children : 

i. Olive A. W.^, b. April 17, 1867; m. James Louis Rose, 
Aug. 22, 1888; r. DesMoines, Iowa. One son: James 
Louis^, b. Feb. 17, 1890. 

a. Eva W.^, b. June 8, 1870; m. Geo. Chas. Sims, Oct. 30, 
1901. 

Hi. Odin Brown W.^, b. Feb. 10, 1872 ; m. Alma Stauda- 
man, Dec. 25, 1899; r. Manning, Iowa. 

iv. John Franklin Walters^, b. March 10, 1874; m. Myrtle 
France, Dec. 4, 1901. 

V. William Wallace W.^, h. March 31, 1876; m. Lulu An- 
derson, Sept. 26, 1899; r. Rockwell City, Iowa. Two 
sons: Ralph Arthur'', b. Jan. 15, 1901 ; Raymond 
Elmo^, b. Jan. 12, 1903. 

vi. Aaron Garnhart Walters^, h. Jan. 29, 1884. 

6. Aaron Garnhart^, b. May 5, 1848; m. Addie Derwent^. 
He d. May 17, 1883. He enlisted as a recruit for the com- 
pany to which his brother David P. belonged, and joined 
the regiment at Concord, N. C, but the war was almost 
over, and he escaped the ordeal of battle. Two children : 
Ella C. and Lea D. The latter d. in California, and of 
Ella no information has been obtained. 

7. John Willis Garnhart*, b. May 8, 1850; m. Caroline V. 
Jones, Oct. 15, 1876; r. Ghana, 111. Three children: 

i. Mittie L. G.^, b. Aug. 14, 1877; m. Frederick Lilley, 
Sept. 12, 1900. One child: Ray Ogden^, b. July 20, 
1901. 

a. Lula B. G.^, h. Nov. 12, 1878. 

Hi. Flossie M. G.^, b. March 8, 1882. 

8. Maurice Garnhart*, b. Aug. 16, 1864; d. in childhood. 



llic Gcniliardl Family History. 281 

III. BENJAMIN GARNHART^ b. Feb. 22, 1816 ; m. Susan 
Martz, March 16, 1840; r. in Muncy Creek Township, Lycoming 
County, only about six miles from the Sinking Springs, where he 
was born. Susan d. Oct. 4, 1888, and he d. Jan. i, 1894. Seven 
children : 

1. Mary Jane^, b. Jan. 23, 1842; m. Colon Logan, of St. 
George, N. B., July 2, 1872; r. Watsontown, Pa. Six 
children : 

/". Susan M.^, b. Feb. 13, 1873; m. Arthur Krum, May 19, 
1897. Two children: Edncr P.^, b. Sept. 22, 1898; 
Clara E.^, b. July 7, 1902. 

//. Benjamin F.^, b. April 21, 1875; d. Oct. 26, 1878. 

Hi. Rosic j\I.^, b. March 20, 1877; d. Oct. 12, 1878. 

iv. Helen £.5, b. Oct. 16, 1881 ; d. March 20, 1884. 

V. Clara B.^, h. Aug. 11, 1883. 

z'i. William A.^, b. June 14, 1888. 

2. Daniel Franklin Garnhart^, b. Nov. 4, 1843; cl- Nov. 

27. 1853. 

3. Martha Ann Garnhart^, b. Feb. 11, 1846; m. James 

Pressler, Nov. 25, 1869; r. Muncy, Pa. Five children: 
/. Edzvard^, b. April 21, 1874; m. Minta Yount, of Hughes- 

ville. Pa., Nov. 4, 1903 ; r. Pittsburgh, Pa. 
a. Harry Benj. R.^, h. Sept. 25, 1875 ; m. Irene Anderson. 

of Pittsburgh, July 15, 1893. One daughter: Roberta 

Thorn*', b. Jan. 2^, 1895. 

Hi. Lillian May^\ b. April 19, 1876; m. Edward Michael, 
Jan. 6, 1897; r. Muncy, Pa. 

iz\ Boyd'^, b. May 2, 1880. 

z'. Bessy Pthenid\ b. June 21, 1884;! d. Aug. 2j, 1884. 

4. Agnes G.'^^ ; died in infancy. 

5. Hannah Amanda G.-*, b. Oct. 27, 1850; d. March 4. 18S3. 

6. William Rankin G.-*, b. Aug. 2, 1852; d. Mav 10. 1898. 

7. James Pollock G.-*, b. Oct. 17. 1854. 



IV. SAMC1-:L G.XRXllARl"-', b. (Vt. II, iSiS; m. Cath- 
arine Hoffman, May (>, 1838: r. Delaware Township. Bought 



282 The Gernhardt Family History. 

and lived and died on land once part of his father's estate, about 
three miles from the Sinking Springs, where he was born. He d. 
Sept. 21, 1879, and she d. May 23, 1884. Seven children: 

1. John"*, b. May 12, 1838; d. January, 1842. 

2. William H. G.^ b. Nov. 15, 1839; d. Jan. 18, 1842. 

3. Mary Ann Garnhart^ b. Oct. 13, 1841 ; m. first, Daniel 
Hafer, who was drowned in the Susquehanna River, while 
fishing, May 14, 1864; m. second, Harrison Bridinger, Jan. 
31,1882. Two children: 

i. George Parson Hafer^, h. May 17, 1863 ; m. Sara Berger, 
Jan. 10, 1894; r. Montgomery, Pa.; o. merchant. Is a 
director of the Montgomery National Bank, of the 
Heilman Couch Manufacturing Company, of Fairview 
Cemetery, and of the Montgomery schools. Two chil- 
dren: Marguerite^ b. Dec. 18, 1894; William Berger^, 
b. March 5, 1898. 

ii. Susannah Katharyn Hafer^, h. Nov. 21, 1864; m. Elmer 
E. Best, May 26, 1887 ; r. Montgomery, Pa. Three 
children: Palmer P.^, b. June 7, 1888; Myrtle Cap- 
tola^, b. June 27, 1890; Marv Caroline^, b. Sept. 23, 
1893. 

4. Sarah Elizabeth Garnhart'*, b. Dec. 17, 1843; ^'^- ^^^^, 
GeoTg® Anderson, Dec. 26, 1865; second, William Taylor, 
Aug. 4, 1886. Geo. A. lost his life by falling while at 
work on the river bridge at Northumberland, Pa., June 14,. 
1866. Wm. T. d. Jan. 30, 1889. She lives on the home- 
stead with her brother Benjamin. Had one child: Cora 
May Anderson^, b. Oct. i, 1866, and d. May 28, 1871. She 
was born but little more than three months after the mis- 
fortune that befell her father. 

5. Catharine Jane Garnhart*, b. July 4, 1845 ! ^- Porter 
Eyster, Feb. 24, 1876; r. Delaware Township, almost with- 
in sight of her childhood home. No issue. 

6. George Jefferson Garnhart^ b. July 26, 1847; m. Mary 

E. Flick, Jan. 16, 1873; r. Delaware Township ; o. farmer. 
Six children : 

i. Catharine Mila Garnhart^, h. Oct. 23, 1873. 

ii. Robert Mahlon Garnhart^, b. April 16, 1875; m. Jennie 
, Nicholas, Dec. i, 1897; r. Kile River, Ogle County, 111.. 




MRS. SAKAII K. lAYI.iiKi. 
WATSO.NIOW N, I'A. 



The Gernhardt Family History. 283 

Three children: George James'-, b.^ 1898 — d. at age 
of seven months; Homer L.*^, b. Oct. 26, 1899; Wilfred 
Ray^, b. December, 1901 — d. May 25, 1903. 

ill. William Flick Garjiliarfi, b. Nov. 16, 1876. 

iv. Samuel Mcrritt GarnharP, b. Aug. 13, 1878. 

V. Daniel Raymond Garnharfi, h. Jan. 17, 1880. 

vi. George Hon'cll Garnharfi, b. Dec. 27, 1882. 

7. Benjamin Franklin Garnhart^ b. July 14. 1849; ^'^• 
Catharine Andrews, Dec. 23, 1884; r. on the homestead; 
o. farmer. Part of his land was once a portion of his 
grandfather Baltzer's farm. Five children : 

i-ii. Carrie L. G.^, and Lloyd A.^, both died in infancy. 

lii. Cora A. G.^, b. April 28, 1892. 

iv. Nada C. G.^, b. Nov. 14, 1894. 

V. George Harold G.^, b. July 21, 1900. 



V. DANIEL GARNHART3, b. J^Iay 22, 1825; m. Susan 
Treon, Feb. 6, 185 1, a younger sister of Lydia, wife of John 
Fogleman. She d. Sept. 10, 1898. They lived and raised their 
large family on a subdivision of his father's farm, but since her 
death he has his home with their daughter, ■Mary Etta Berger- 
stock, and her husband, who own and now live on a farm adjoin- 
ing. Before his wife died Daniel had become totally blind, in 
some respects perhaps a greater affliction at his age than if he 
had never known the inestimable blessing of good eyesight. He is 
now the sole survivor of I'altzer's household, and the last living 
member of the third generation still in the neighborhood of the 
Sinking Springs and the old family burying ground. He has 
always lived a quiet, even and unpretentious life, and is esteemed 
as a good and upright citizen. T have known '"Uncle Dan" for 
a number of years, and have aKva\s liked him for his genial man- 
ner, his uniform good nature and checrt'ul disposition, and his 
, fidelity to what he believes in. He was Overseer of the Poor 
upwards of seventeen years, but could serve no longer because 
overtaken bv the affliction of blindness. Ten clni<h-en: 



284 The Gernhardt Family History. 

1. Elizabeth Rejinah Garnhart"^, b. Jan. 4, 1852; m. first, 
Alfred Painton^ ; m. second, Ernest Roberts, of Manches- 
ter, England, Aug. 28, 1893; r. Cleveland, Ohio. Seven 
children : 

i. Edzvard George Painton^, b. Nov. 16, 1872; m. Florence 
Clay. 

a. Harriet Susan P}, b. Oct. 7, 1874; d. September, 1875. 

Hi. Arthur Alfred P.^, b. May i, 1876; m. Florence Janette 
Shultz. 

iv. Collins Warren P.^, h. Nov. 27, 1878; m. Frances 
Lenore Loraine Whightman ; r. St. Louis, Mo. 

z'. Lillian May P.^, b. Nov. 7, 1880; m. Frederick John 
Beck ley. 

vi. Maud P.^ b. Aug. i, 1882 ; d. Oct. 6, 1885. 

vii. Theodosia P.^, b. Dec. 4, 1884; m. Alfred Mendole 
Henry. 

2. George Treon Garnhart*, b. April 22, 1853 ; m. Cora 
Ellen Gifford, Aug. 27, 1879; r. Pain's Point, Ogle County, 
111. ; o. farmer. Six children : 

i. Carrie May^, b. Jan. 7, 1881. 

ii. William Henry^, b. Aug. 15, 1883; d. April 5, 1894. 

lii. Clarence Walker^, b. Nov. 19, 1885. 

iv. Harrison LeRoy^, h. Sept. 15, 1888. 

V. Josephine Cora^, h. April i, 1894. 

vi. Ora Kathalcne^, b. Feb. 11, 1898. 

3. Margaret Ellen Garnhart^ b. Sept. 23, 1855 ; m. Bar- 
ney Rock, Oct. 22, 1888; r. Sheldon, Iowa. Four chil- 

. dren : 

i. Belle^, b. April 11, 1889; d. March 8, 1894. 

ii. Bessie^, b. Dec. 17, 1890. 

Hi. Curtis Roy^, b. Jan. 2, 1898. 

iv. Beulah^, b. Dec. 28, 1898; d. Nov. 8, 1899. 

4. Mary Etta Garnhart*, b. Aug. 14, 1857; m. Albert Ber- 

gerstock, Dec. 11, 1883; r. Delaware Township. One 
daughter: May Susan, b. Sept. 23, 1884. 

5. Levi Henry Garnhart^, b. March 20," 1859. Went West, 
and has not been heard from for upwards of twenty 
years. 



H 

-r. > 

C -y. 

Z - 



■y. " 

> X 
X 




The Gernhardt Family History. 285 



6. John Albert Garxitart*, b. Dec. 23. 1861 ; m. Han ki 
Bieber'^. Four children : Frank^, Vera^, Floy'^, and Lee^. 

7. William Thomas Garnhart-*, b. March 16, 1864; m. Ida 

M. Winters, March 2, 1890; r. on a farm near Exchange, 

Montour County, Pa. Three children: 

i. Harry^, b. Nov. 24, 1890; d. Feb. 2, 1891. 

//. Chester D.^, b. Feb. 28, 1896. 

;7/. LeRoy^, b. March 2y, 1898; d. July 2, 1898. 

8. Samuel Edwards Garnhart*, b. May 8, 1866; d. Aug. 

16, 1866. 

9. Susannah Garnhart^ b. Jan. 7, 1868; m. Franklin Dyer, 
Oct. 6, 1888. One child: Iva May^, b. July 12, 1895. 
Susannah d. on the i8th of the same month ; r. White 
Rock. Ogle County, 111. 

10. Crissa Alida May Garnhart"*, b. Oct. 23, 1875 ; m. 
Franklin Dyer, her brother-in-law, Feb. 8, 1896; r. Milton, 
Pa. Two children : 

i. Artimus^, b. Oct. 2t„ 1898. 
a. Clyde C}, b. Nov. 10, 1900. 



IX. 

ANNA MARIA WILLIAMS BRANCH. 

Anna ^Maria. next to the youngest of Heinrich's children, 
was bom Sept. 17, 1786. nearly three years before George Wash- 
ington became the first President of the new Republic. She mar- 
ried Charles Williams Dec. 13, 1808, three years after the pur- 
chase of the Sinking Springs Farm. When Heinrich added the 
codicil to his last will and testament, Feb. 28. 1820. she with her 
husband and four children— the eldest now eleven and the young- 
est five — it appears were at that time living on his large farm, as 
it will be remembered that he directed that she and her two un- 
married sisters, Elizabeth and Susanna, should remain on the 
place for the space of one year after his decease clear of rent, be 
furnished with firewoo<l, hay for one cow each, ground "to plant 
potatoes on," besides a certain quantity of apples, beef, pork, 



286 The Gernhardt Family History. 

wheat, corn and buckwheat, and the only stipulation named was 
that "the girls must assist in gathering the apples." But death 
in time breaks up and scatters every family, no matter how de- 
voted to each other the members may be, or how contented, or 
how comfortably situated they may be. One by one the sons and 
daughters of Heinrich went forth into the wide world, until at 
last the family was entirely and forever dispersed. Anna Maria was 
the last of the four to migrate to the State of New York, but just 
where she resided with her husband and children for about fifteen 
years after the homestead was sold I have not ascertained, but 
understand the farm on which she lived was in the same town- 
ship, and near the river. About 1838 she moved with her family 
— now also including a daughter-in-law, John's wife, and a son- 
in-law, Nathan Kinman — to the neighborhood of Pekin, Niagara 
County, N. Y., where some of her descendants still reside on land 
she and her husband bought about sixty-five years ago. She died 
April 8, 1862. Her descendants : 



I. JOHN WILLIAMS b. June 15, 1809; m. Mary Levan, 
June 9, 1830. Lived for several years on a farm near Limestone- 
ville, Montour County, Pa., but, as above stated, moved to the 
State of New York in 1838. His wife died Sept. 16, 1845, ^"^ 
he died Dec. 29, 1881. They had: 

1. Charles S. Williams^ b. March 19, 1832; m. Mary Jane 
Kelsey, Sept. 20, i860; r. St. Johns, Michigan. Three 
children : 

i. William A}, b. Dec. 6, 1861 ; m. Miss Mary Leonie 
Lapham, Nov. 26, 1885. One child: Gertrude Beat- 
rice W.*^, b. March 23, 1898. 

a. Everette^, b. Aug. 12, 1863; d. March 12, 1867. 

Hi. Charles D.^, b. Dec. i, 1868; d. May 23, 1869. 

2. John B. Williams^ b. Jan. 6, 1834; d. in childhood. 

3. Theodore C. Williams*, b. June 6, 1835 ; m. Sarah L. 
Root, Sept. 24, 1856; r. Pekin, N. Y. ; o. farmer. Three 
sons and one daughter: 



The Gernhardt Family History. 2S7 



/. John T. IVilliains-', h. July 9, 1858; m. Elizabeth Staats. 
Jan. 22, 1879; r. Pekin, N. Y. ; o. merchant. Four 
children : 

a. Grace Elisabeth W.^, b. Feb. 3, 1880; m. Rupert Glenn 

Pool, April 26, 1899; r. Niagara J'^alls. One son: 
Glenn R. PooF, b. Jan. 25, 1901. 

b. Frank T. W.\ b. Oct. 20, 1881. 

c. Charles W.^, b. Aug-. 10, 1883. 

d. Edna M. ]VS\ b. April 10, 1900. 

a. Frank C. IVilliains^, b. IMarch 4, i860; m. Ida L. 
Canell, Dec. 21, 1881. Two children: Clarence C.^ 
b. July 21, 1883; Clara^, b. July 10, 1888. 

Hi. James R. William^, b. April 22, 1868; m. Alicine Dab- 
ney, March 27, 1898. 

iv. Sadie W.^, b. March 13, 1873 ; ni. Harry N. Rexford,. 
April 22, 1902 ; r. Carnegie, Pa. 

4. Mary L. Williams^, b. April 18, 1838; m. Smith J. New- 
man, Oct. 18, 1865 ; r. Pekin, N. Y. Six children : 

I. Ida Emmc^, b. Dec. 16, 1867; m. W'ilbert Seymore 
Nichols, Aug. 17, 1887; r. Lewiston, N. Y. Four chil- 
dren : May Blanche^ b. Oct. 12, 1888 ; Effie Grover^, b. 
June 4, 1890; Ida Winnifred^, b. Sept. 14, 1892; Lala 
Lucinda*^, b. Jan. 21, 1894. 

a. Anna L. N.^, b. Feb. 6, 1870; m. Howard \\'. Bradlee,. 
Dec. 31, 1891 ; r. Ionia, Mich. One daughter: Vernly 
Dewey^^ b. May i, 1898 — the morning that Admiral 
Dewey won his great victory and destroyed the Span- 
ish ships in Manila Bay. 

Hi. Lala Franees N.^, b. March 7, 1871 ; m. Frank J. Cor- 
nell, Oct. 28, 1888 ; r. Niagara Falls. 

iv. Carrie May W. N.^, h. May 31, 1872: in. Waller L. 
Collins, July i, 1894; r. Pekin. Two children: Ruth 
L. N.6, b. Feb. 12. 1897; (irace W. N.«. b. May 25. 1898. 

z'. John Henry W. N.^, b. Sept. 7, 1874; m. Monica Mar- 
guerite Kellick, July 7, 1899 ; n. c. 

vi. Charles W. N.^, h. Jan. 7. 1876. 

5. Emma Wiiiiams*, b. Dec. 16, 1841 : m. Oorge S. McCor- 
mick, Nov. 25, 1862. She d. Aug. 26. 1864. Xo 
issue. 



288 The Gernhardt Family History. 



II. ROSANNA WILLIAMS^, b. Nov. 5, 1810; m. Nathan 
Kinman, Jan. 3, 1829. They moved from Niagara County, N. 
Y., to Ohio in 1847. She d. April 4, 1887, at Bellbrook, Green 
County, and is spoken of by persons who knew her well as a 
bright, intelligent, and dearly beloved and estimable Christian 
lady. Her husband was an uncle to Seth Kinman, the famous 
hunter, trapper and adventurer, who was noted also for his skill 
in fabricating unique objects of curiosity. He and Seth resem- 
bled each other in their ingenuity and constructiveness, and in 
their tireless and restless dispositions, but were regarded as be- 
ing very little alike in other respects. Nathan's handiwork and 
inventions were not for mere exhibition, but were things of 
utility and profit. He was a millwright by trade, and most of 
his achievements were in the line of millwork. The most valu- 
able was a Flour Packer, the best device of the kind then invented, 
for which he obtained Letters Patent in October, 1849, ^^^ from 
the sale of which he realized enough to have made him and his 
family comfortable for life, yet like many inventors it was never- 
theless his fate to die poor. He was strictly temperate, moral, 
well informed on a variety of subjects, ever affectionately de- 
voted to his family, but yet always too much inclined to see and 
seek opportunity in some other place rather than right around 
him, and so too often disregarded such common-sense dictums 
as, "a rolling stone gathers no moss," and "one bird in hand is 
better than two in the bush." I never saw him, but having seen 
his nephew, Seth, and heard him talk an,d play the fiddle, and 
having inspected some of his curious fabrications, it may be well 
enough to devote a little space to the nephew. 

Seth many years ago traveled all the way from Illinois to 
California with an ox team, an experience that would doubtless 
have furnished data for an interesting chapter. After a number 
of years he returned in the same leisurely way, to find that his 
wife had meanwhile died, and that his widowed mother had been 
taking good care of his three motherless and for a time father- 
less children. He started again for California with an ox team, 
this time taking his good mother and children with him. What 



The Gcrnluinit Family History. 289 



a long, slow, wearisome journey across the plains and niuuiUains 
that must have been for his old mother and the children. The 
old lad}' no doubt felt reasonably safe with her brave and burly 
boy, and it is a satisfaction to know that she lived for many years 
to enjoy the new home and many comforts in the land of sun- 
shine and flowers. She and Scth both died and are buried in 
Eureka, Humbold County. JNlany of his hunting adventures oc- 
curred on the other side of the Rocky Mountains. 

Once when Seth crossed the plains on one of his hunting and 
exploring excursions he had with his team a faithful old mule he 
called Dave, of whose intelligence and social qualities he had a 
verv high opinion. But old Dave was mortal, was taken violently 
sick and suddenly went the way of all flesh, and his mourning 
master had to leave his carcass on the plains for the hungry 
wolves and coyotes to feast on his flesh. On his return trip Seth 
camped again on the same spot, and there was the skeleton of his 
devoted old friend, Dave, now clean and bleached, recalling to 
mind his valuable services in days gone by, and suggesting that 
he might still be of some possible services to his appreciative 
owner. Gently turning over old Dave's skull, and perhaps won- 
dering as the poet wondered when he queried, 

" When coldness wraps this suffering clay. 
Ah, whither strays the immortal mind?" 

the thought immediately came to him that he could make a fiddle 
out of it, and that he might also make a fiddle bow out of one of 
his ribs, as sure as a woman was once made out of a man's rib. 
So he l)rought some of the bones of his dear old Dave witli him, 
and by and by he made a skull-bone fiddle and a rib-bone fiddle 
bow. with whicli he in course of time delighted thousands by 
])laying "Old Dan Tucker," ''Zib Coon." and "The Devil's 
Dream." He was not a great violinist. Init he surely was a great 
fiddler, and executed what he could pla\- with admirable technique 
and stirring expression. His playing was like himself, strong, 
steady, bold, wild, original and peculiar. 1 practiced some my- 
self at that time on the same King of Instruments, and his viva- 
cious plaving made a lasting and pleasing im|)ressi(ni on me. In 



290 The Gernhardt Family History. 

imagination I can still hear him. Seth was never without a fid- 
dle, even when he traveled on the plains, and when he played in 
camp he was always sure of having an attentive ear, as old Dave 
would invariably linger near the fire, or wagon, being as great a 
lover of music as the fiddler himself. But poor old Dave never 
dreajned, no more did his master then, that some day his cranium 
would be transfomied into a fiddle and furnish amusement to 
wondering crowds. 

Sometime during Lincoln's first administration Seth visited 
Muncy and gave an entertainment in a public hall, at which t was 
present. He appeared in his buckskin hunting clothes, a power- 
ful and most formidable-looking man, with an immense beard 
and long, bushy hair reaching to his shoulders, and seemed tb 
me as great a curiosity as many of the novelties he exhibited. 
Among the relics displayed was a wonderful Elkhorn chair that 
he had made for Abraham Lincoln, and which he said he was 
then on his way to Washington to present to the noble man, for 
whom he expressed intense admiration. He also had another 
curious chair from under the seat of which, when he sat down on 
it, the head of a bear would shoot forth and savagely snap its 
jaws. He exhibited the skull-fiddle and rib-bow and gave an in- 
teresting history of shrewd old Dave, and played a tune or two 
to show that there was still some music in his old comrade, not- 
withstanding that he could no longer make the welkin ring with 
his sonorous braying. But the strange instrument did not have 
the sweet and resonant tone of his real vioJin, on which he played 
the "Arkansas Traveler," and as he did so related the observations 
and adventures of that renowned character, to the intense delight 
of a very attentive audience. He had been an admirer of Presi- 
dent Buchanan, and had presented him with a sample of his 
ingenuity in the shape of a Buckhorn chair, but when secession 
trampled Old Glory in the dust he saw things in a new light and 
became infused with the most enthusiastic admiration for Old 
Abe. It seems that after the war he presented a Bear chair to 
President JohnsonI — the chair probably that has just been men- 



lii^ 


^^^ 




1 ^^ ^ J^^^^^^^^^^^^^^B 



MRS. KOSANN'A KIN MAN', BELLBHOi iK. n 
1810-1887. 



The Gernhardt Family History. 291 



tioned. He about that time also presented a curious chair to 
Rutherford B. Hayes, who was then Governor of Ohio. 

CHnton Lloyd, Esq., a clerk in the House of Representatives, 
who spent the last years of his life in Muncy, made the presenta- 
tion speech when Seth gave the Elkhoni chair to President Lin- 
coln. Mr. Lloyd, whose memory was a marvel to all who knew 
him, was a valued contributor to Now and Then, and I now have 
to regret that I did not think to ask him to give its readers his 
recollections of Seth and Lincoln on that anomalous but interest- 
ing occasion. But fortunately some remembrance of the event 
has been preserved. Mr. John G. Huntington, a first cousin of 
Seth's, in 1897 published a little book of personal reminiscences 
in which he mentions that when, in 1862, he was at his home in 
Montgomery, Lycoming County, Pa., on a furlough from the 
army, Seth came to his house, and that they then went to Wash- 
ington together for the express purpose of presenting the chair 
to the President. He says : "I had the extreme pleasure of be- 
ing one of the men who carried the chair to Mr. Lincoln at the 
White House, and it was an occasion that I will never forget. I will 
always remember Mr. Lincoln's remarks. Kinman's father and 
Abe Lincoln had been in the Black Hawk war together in Illinois, 
and Seth had with him an old flint-lock rifle which his father had 
used in that war. Mr. Lincoln took up the old rifle and. taking 
sight over the long barrel, said, 'Mr. Kinman, I believe these are 
the best guns yet.' " After mentioning how Seth amused Lincoln 
with the story of his old mule Dave, and by showing him the skull- 
fiddle and rib-bone bow, he then goes on to say : 'After Mr. Lin- 
coln sat down in the chair and tried it all over he said, 'Mr. kin- 
man, you got my measure pretty well ; it just fits me.' Mr. kin- 
man now said: 'Mr. President. I have something else here that 
I want to show you.' 'What is it?' inquired Abe. Just then 
I stepped forward from the rear of the room and handed the violiti 
to Kinman. Mr. Lincoln viewed it all over and asked. 'Now. Mr. 
Kinman, will it make any music?' Seth took the violin and said : 
'Mr. Lincoln, I will play you two tunes. One is the "Essence of 
Old \'irginia," and the other is "Root, Hog. or Die." He also 



292 The Gernhardt Family History. 

played 'Away Down in Dixie.' Well, when Kinman drew the 
bow across those strings it took Old Abe so down that he 
laughed until his stove-pipe hat fell off on the floor. I never will 
forget the event. I never saw a man enjoy anytshing like Mr. 
Lincoln did that music. When the music ceased Mr. Lincoln said : 
'Now, Mr. Kinman, I will take the chair and you take the violin ; 
for I can sit in the chair but can't play the violin.' This ended 
the presentation." 

Rosanna's and Nathan's children and grandchildren : 

1. Sarah Ann Kinman"*, b. Dec. 22, 1829; m. James Curtis, 
March 25, 1850; she d. March 10, 1853. No issue. 

2. John Kinman*, b. Aug. 17, 1831 ; m. Miss Louise Clark, 
April 4, 1857; r. Dayton, O. 

He early entered the military service, but of the date of his 
enlistment I have not been informed. He was severely wounded 
on the morning of the first day of the battle of Pittsburg Land- 
ing, — fought April 6 and 7, 1862, — the greatest and most sanguin- 
ary battle of the war then yet fought. As the Union troops w:ere 
driven from the field, and his comrades covdd not find him when 
the ground was regained on the following day, it has been sup- 
posed that he was removed by the Confederates, and that he prob- 
ably soon died in their hands. Being very severely wounded, he 
may, however, have crawled from the spot where he was seen fall 
and been among the scattered host of both sides who, intermingled, 
lay cold and rigid on the wide field over which the two great 
armies had been desperately struggling for two days. The 
enemy had left his own dead to be buried by our troops, and he 
had been so stubbornly fought, and at times so hard pressed, and 
his facilities for caring for his own wounded so taxed, that it may 
be questioned whether he looked after our badly wounded. But 
whatever John's particular fate was, he was one of the many loyal 
and true whose death-message there was no one to receive and 
send home, and whose final place of rest will never by mortal be 
known. Though not even a simple head-stone will ever mark his 
grave, what grander memorial can there be to his valor and patriot- 
ism than the national peace and prosperity he died to secure. He 



The Gernhardt Family History. 2()^ 



died a martyr, for us, his kindred, his country, and for all hu- 
manity. 

He had one daughter: Anna Laura^. b. Feb.' 20, 1859, at 
Manistee, Mich. She m. first, Horatio S. Kemp, Feb. 14, 1884: 
second, Francis G. Pucket. Dec. 14. 1895. Two children: Ruth 
Richmond Kemp^, b. June 5, 1887; Eliza W'ahnetah Tucket^ b. 
April 7, 1899; r. Dayton, Ohio. 

3. Charles C. Kinman'*, b. April 11, 1833 : m. Mary 11. I lall, 
May 10, 1853. After he had been in the tjiree months' 
service he re-enlisted for three years, and joined the 23d 
Kentucky Vol. Infantrv', Oct. 9, 1861. He passed safely 
through the bloody battle of Murfreesboro', but was soon 
afterwards disabled by an accident in camp that unfitted 
him for militjary service, and on account of which he was 
honorably discharged May 10, 1863; r. Galena. O. He d. 
May 14, 1889, and was buried at Galena, Ohio. Three 
children : 
/. Julia Aiiiiic K.^, b. Aug. 10, 1854; d. Feb. i, 1855. 

//. Ida May K.°, b. Jan. 26, 1856 ; m. Dr. Judson Utley, July 
20, 1878 ; r. Galena, O. Three children : Mary Edna^ 
b. March 22, 1883: Gertrude Borland*^, b. Jan; 9, 1887; 
Gladys K.^, b. Feb. 9, 1892. 

/■/■/. George Borland K.^, b. April 23, 1858; d. Feb. 7, 1888. 
at Bloomfield, Indiana, where he was engaged in the 
mercantile business ; m. Catharine Grey, the same dav 
he died. 

George, as we learned from one who knew him well, was a 
yoimg man of good habits and excellent character. He had more 
than ordinary ability, was studious and industrious, and although 
still young, had already succeeded well in business. His doting 
parents had begun to lean upon him as the staff of their old a^e. 
But disease suddenly robbed them of that consolation and laid him 
low. He had engaged himself to be married. When he felt that 
the ruthless messenger was about to come for him. he asked to 
have the marriage ceremony performed, and twelve hours later 
he was numbered with the great, silent multitude, and his yctiuig 
wife was alreadv a widow. 



294 The Gernhardt Family History. 



4. William H. Kinman^, b. Sept. 26, 1835 ; m. Mrs. Sophia 
Dodge Kisse, of Pekin, N. Y., July 6, 1863 ; r. and d. in 
Andrew County, Mo. Two children : 

i. George L.^, b. June 23, 1864; d. Dec. 22, 1887. 

a. Alvin A}, b. Sept. 28, 1866; m. Martha Wright, May 
2^, 1894; r. Robinson, Brown County, Kansas. Four 
children : Earl Arthur^, b. May 7, 1895 ; Charles Ever- 
ett^, b. Aug. 19, 1897; William Thomas^, b. April 15, 
1899; Harvey Leslie^ b. Oct. 2i> 1901. 

5. Mary Jane Kinman^ b. April 5, 1838; d. Sept. 8, 1839. 

6. George W. Kinman*, b. Feb. 6, 1840; d. Dec. i, 1851. 

7. Seth Kinman*, b. June 5, 1842; d. Aug. 17, 1842. 

8. Mary Sophia Kinman*, b. Aug. 17, 1843; i""- James A. 
Maloney, March i, i860; r. Bellbrook,* O. James d. May 
23, 1894. Had no children of their own, yet their home 
was an asylum for children. They raised and educated 
three, and gave temporary homes to a number of others. 
She and her youngest brother, Nathan, are the only chil- 
dren of Rosanna now living. 

9. Ellen Jane Kinman-*, b. Aug. 22, 1847; ^- I^a A. Scott, 
Jan. 14, 1868; r.x She d. Jan. i, 1876. Three children : 

i. George Louis S}, b. Oct. 18, 1869; d. April 12, 1880. 

a. Annettie S.^, h. June 25, 1871 ; m. Harry K. Chidlaw, 
Oct. 18, 1892; r. Orange, Texas. Three children: 
Lester Scott^, b. Oct. 2t„ 1893 ; Carroll Hughes^, b. May 
25, 1896; Harry Kenneth^, b. Sept. 16, 1900. 

m. Mary Bell S.^, b. July 26, 1873 ; m. Walter McClure, 
Oct. 18, 1892 — the same day on which her sister Annet- 
tie was married. Two children : James Edwards^, b. 
Sept. 13, 1893; Carl Scott^, b. Feb. 3, 1900. 

10. Nathan T. Kinman^, b. Feb. i, 1851 ; m. Olive Amelia 
Craw, Sept. 11, 1877; r. Long Beach, Los Angeles Countv, 
Cal. 

He was the youngest of the thirty-three patriotic descendants 
of Heinrich Gernhardt who, from 1861 to this time, entered the 
mili4:ary service of Uncle Sam. He was but a stripling eleven 
years and ten months old when, in company with a chum, Joe Rob- 
inson, he ran away from home, and on the 28th day of November, 



The Gernhardt Family History. 295 



1862, enlisted as a drummer — because on account of his apfc he 
knew he would not otherwise be accepted. His three living broth- 
ers were already in the service, and he thought it was his duty to 
be there also. In the following spring the army of the Cumber- 
land was being recruited and needed musicians, so he was orderetl 
from New York, where he had been stationed during the winter, 
to join the army at Chattanooga, to serve as a bugler. It was 
soon discovered, however, that lie could not bugle, whereupon he 
was given his choice of being sent back home or shouldering a 
gun and a knapsack. He immediately decided to remain with 
the army. He wanted to carry a gun, and did not object to a 
knapsack. He was still only in his 13th year, but his promotion 
to the rank of a high private made him feel that he had now at- 
tained to manhood. ' There were perhaps younger boys in the army 
as drummers, but certainly not many yoimger that carried a gun 
and a knapsack. He was now assigned to Company G, of the 
79th Pa. V. Infantry. Fourteenth Army Corps, under Gen. John 
AI. Palmer. 

Nathan's first baptism of fire chanced to be at Lookout Moun- 
tain. November 23. 1863, where there was much fire, and much 
excitement. He did not know that war was such a terrible busi- 
ness, but he found out what it was when the infernal dogs of war 
began to bark and howl and snap and bite as the Fourteenth 
Corps moved across Lookout Valley in the assault on Lookout 
Mountain, the crest of which was alive with the ready Boys in 
Gray under the redoubtable General James Longstreet, waiting to 
receive with their outstretched arms the eager Boys in Blue under 
the equally valorous General Joseph Hooker. The attacking 
troops were not only warmly assailed with shot from muskets 
and cannon, but shells with lighted fuses, and rocks, and even logs, 
were rolled down on them in the most spiteful manner, as they 
scaled the side of the mountain, and fought and won the famous 
"Battle above the Clouds." Nathan vividl\- rememlH?rs !iow. after 
the Johnnies had in belter skelter haste left their seemingly impreg- 
nable position, the conquerors, flushed with their splendid victory. 
rent the air with shout upon shout and became almost frantic witli 



296 The Gernhardt Family History. 

joy. And Nathan was a very fortunate boy, as he sustained no 
injury in this nor in any of the succeeding battles during Sher- 
man's March to the Sea, which now seems marvelous to him when 
he reflects how many he saw killed and wounded around him in 
the various engagements. 

The hottest place the juvenile soldier thought he was ever in 
was at the battile of Bentonville, N. C, March 21, 1865, near the 
close of the war, where Sherman gave Gen. Johnston another 
severe wallop. The fight did not continue long, but it was lusty 
and bloody while it lasted. Gen. Slocum, in command of the left 
wing of Sherman's army, very unexpectedly found himself con- 
fronted by Johnston's entire army, whereupon Sherman ordered 
him to stand strictly on the defensive, and sent dispatches to a 
number of his scattered divisions to move in haste to Bentonville 
in his support. Slocum was not frightened. He at once took a 
strong position to make a vigorous defense, and then sent a di- 
vision a little farther ahead to form another line. Johnston now 
quickly fell on him with an overwhelming force and broke up his 
advanced line. Slocum had hurried up the Fourteenth Corps, 
under Gen. J. C. Davis, — the corps to which Nathan belonged, car- 
rying a gun and a knapsack, — and the Twentieth Corps, under 
Gen. Williams, and was now ready to make an obstinate resistance 
tmtil Sherman could push forward the troops to his relief. Kil- 
patrick heard the noise of battle in the distance and in the mean- 
time had come galloping tio the scene and massed his cavalry on 
the left, ready to take a hand in the fight. The confident enemy 
now came on in a terrific rush, in three heavy columns, expecting 
to crush Slocum by his very weight and impetuousness. But he 
found himself facing an insurmountable barrier. Right there in 
his front stood the undaunted Fourteenth Corps, presenting a solid 
wall beyond which he could not advance. Six times in less than 
one hour he tried in vain to break the line. He partially succeeded 
the last time, but the undismayed men of the Fourteenth Instantly 
rallied, furiously charged him in turn, and sent him flying from 
the field. It was a hot fight, and so close that many of the Con- 
federate dead lav within the Union lines. Nathan savs the men 



The GcniJiardt family History. 297 



around him were "simply mowed down," but once more he passed 
through the showers of bullets without being harmed. Otlier di- 
visions of Sherman's army now came up, and Johnston concluded 
the proper thing for him was to retreat. Slocunrs loss was seri- 
ous, but Johnston's was nearly twice as heavy. 

Though battles are exciting, and always more or less danger- 
ous to corporeity and life, yet the long and tiresome marches, in 
the hot sun, or in rain, often over dusty, sandy or muddy roads, 
were sometimes about as hard to endure. Nathan says his com- 
mand marched thirty-five miles one day, then before the men had 
time to get settled in camp the enemy came upon them and forced 
them back over the same ground, and they did not stop moving 
until the next morning, when they were about ready to fall over 
from sheer exhaustion. Often, however, the soldiers have lots of 
merriment on their marches, as well as when in camp, as every 
battalion has its irrepressible wags and jokers, ever ready with 
some ludicrous speech, or to view grave matters in a farcial way, 
and this often serves to rally their spirits and maintain their forti- 
tude. There is always something turning up tO' make sport over, 
to stir up their wits, promote good cheer, excite interest in their 
movements and surroundings, and to keep them on the alert. In- 
cidents daily occur, in almost every soldier's life, that would adorn 
a tale, point a moral, excite sympathy, provoke laughter, or elicit 
admiration, if rightly told. Once Nathan went out on a foraging 
raid by himself, at a time when such liberty was not approved, 
and he came across a little pig, nice and fat, that he seized as con- 
traband of war and tried to smuggle into camp without being seen 
by the officers. He was caught in the act, however, and for his 
defiant misdemeanor he was compelled for a while to carry the pig 
back and forth in front of the commander's tent, ami then — more 
mortifying than all — -he was obliged to surrender the pig. He 
would not have minded the carrying part of the penalty, if he only 
had not been deprived of his nice little fat pig. At another time, 
when he craved a change of diet, he quietly stole from the ranks 
when on a march to visit a house not far from the line, where he 
thought himself very fortimate to find a nicely bakotl cake, a 



298 The Gernhardt Family History. 

luxury not on the list of army rations. When he returned to his 
company he shared the tempting sustenance with two of his com- 
rades. Result — his comrades died, and he got "awfully sick." 
Moral — don't always trust to pleasing appearances. Lesson — 
obey orders. 

A good pair of willing legs sometimes is a blessing to a sol- 
dier, and inattention to orders may cause serious trouble. Once 
when the boy was out on the skirmish line a call was sounded 
that he mistook for a summons of another sort, and that led him 
to move in the wrong direction. The mistake resulted in his 
walking right up to a body of Confederates. Seeing his predica- 
ment, he wheeled about and made a desperate scud to get back to 
congenial company. A number of bullets whizzed past him, but 
he got back whold — as bullets don't hurt unless they hit you. He 
thinks his legs never performed their duty in better time. And 
he paid closer attention to calls after this affair. 

No impression remains more vivid in Nathan's mind than the 
closing scene of the war, of which it was his good fortune to be a 
witness. He will never forget how jubilant they all felt and the 
excitement that followed when the word was passed along the 
lines that both Lee and Johnston had surrendered, and that the 
cruel war was at last ended. The men were forbidden to fire ofif 
their guns or discharge the field pieces, but a command might as 
well have been given to the wind to stop blowing. For the next 
hour the noise made by the defenders of Old Glory was simply 
terrific. The glorious sunshine of Peace had at last broken 
through the black cloud of Civil War, and they could not refrain 
from giving the loudest possible expression to the joy, the over- 
whelming delight, that now filled their hearts. The whole army 
was frenzied with excitement. The noise presently subsided, but 
the rapturous joy that had for a moment overflowed abides to this 
day in the soul of every survivor who fought to preserve the 
Union. Preparations immediately followed to march to Washing- 
ton, where they were to be reviewed by the President and his Cab- 
inet, and then disbanded. Nathan, now past the noon of life, 
thus in a few touching words referred to their reception at the 



The GcrnJuirdt Family History. 299 



metropolis of the nation liy the great and grateful multitude on 
the bright day of the review : "We arrived in Washington tired, 
ragged and dirty, but Oh ! how we were cheered and cheered and 
cheered by the people as we marched by. It is a pleasant memory 
yet, to think of those heart}- and tumviltuous cheers, the bright 
faces, and the flags, that everywhere lined the avenues, and the 
cordial welcome we all received." 

Nathan's family consists of ten children : 

i. Alary EIoisc-\ b. June 5, 1878; m. Floyd C. Foote, March 
12, 1900. Mr. Foote is editor and proprietor of The 
A'ezvs, of Long Beach, Cal. One son : \\'a>ne Theo- 
dore Foote^, b. Dec. 18, 1900. 

a. Olive Rosanna^, b. Jan. 11, 1880; m. Frank ]\I. Wilson, 
Aug. 15, 1898; r. Independence, Cal. One daughter: 
Gladys Wilson^ b. Oct. i, 1899. 

Hi. Ada Ellen^, h. April 27, 1882. 

iv. Lucy Liiella^, b. Jan. 18, 1884. 

v. Jessie Irnuv', b. Sept. 4, 1887. 

vi. Nathan Lloyd^, b. Jan. 29, 1889. 

vii. Harold Ernest^, b. Aug. 21, 1891. 

vni. Glena^, b. Feb. 26, 1895. 

ix. Ralph^, b. April 19, 1897. 

.r. George^, b. April 15, 1901. 

III. DxWID WILLIAIMS^, b. Jan. 22, 1812; d. April 13, 
1833- 

IV. CHARLES C. WILLIAMS-^ b. .March 18. 1813: m. 
IMiss Emily A. Combs, of Chautauqua County, N. Y., Sept. r, 
1845. She d. in 1848. He d. Aug. 21, 1857. Had one son: 
George W.-*. who enlisted in the 23d Independent Battery of X. 
Y., and died of yellow fever at Newbern, N. C, Oct. 26. 18(14, 
aged 18 vears and five months. I regret the failure to obtain 
some particulars of this lonely orphan relative's service in the 
army, as his loyalty and self-sacrifice merit more than this brief 

mention. 

"And though the warrior's sun has set, 
Its lijiht shall linjjer round us yet, 
Bi'ight — radiant — l)lest I ' ' 



300 The Gernhardt Family History. 

SUSANNA GERNHARDT HOSTELLER. 

Susanna, the youngest of the children of Heinrich and Rosine, 
was born September 24, 1789, and was therefore in her sixteenth 
year when the family settled at the Sinking Spring. She was 
thirty years old and still single in 1820, when Heinrich died, soon 
after he had made his final will and bequeathed to her and her 
sister, Anna Elizabeth, certain efifects to make their patrimony, as 
he says, "equal to what their married sisters get." She married 
George Hosteller, but of the date of the wedding no record seems 
to have been preserved. She had but one child, Rubet ]Marion, 
born Feb. 6, 1825, who died when in her seventh year. Hay i, 
183 1. The little marble headstone that marks her grave had 
sunken almost out of sight, and on one of my visits to the old 
graveyard I spent some minutes scraping away the soil so that 
the stone could be raised and the inscription on it read. Susanna 
died Nov. 25, 1846, at the age of 57, and her husband died Nov. 15, 
1859, aged 75 years. The graves of the three are side by side in 
the second tier back of the row (in front rather, because next to 
the street) containing the "long homes" of Anna Elizabeth and 
Baltzer and his wife — and we believe also (between the grave of 
Anna E. and the church) the unmarked and forgotten graves of 
Heinrich and Rosine, and perhaps the first wife of Philip. See 
the engraving of the Delaware Run Church and graveyard. 
George lies nearest to the church, just back of the horse-shed, then 
Susanna, and then little Rubet Harion ; and there peacefully re- 
pose the three of our almost forgotten kindred, of whom we may 
say in the words of the beautiful poem, "Why should the spirit of 
mortal be proud," that Abraham Lincoln so loved : 

"The infant a mother attended and loved, 
The mother that infant's affection who proved; 
The hushand that mother and infant who blessed, 
Each, all, are away to their dwellings of rest." 

Susanna has, therefore, left no posterity. Her own little 
household is not only now long extinct, but while eight of her sis- 
ters and brothers already have a multitude of descendants, not one 



The Gcrnhardt Family History. 301 

drop of her blood now courses through human heart. She always 
resided in Delaware Township (once part of Turhut ), and ])asscd 
all her married days less than three miles from the Sinkinj^ 
Spring, where she had spent most of her single days. 

There is the grave of another slumbering jMosteller in the 
same row, next to little Rubet Marion's, that is of interest to the 
descendants of Heinrich and Rosine, and yet it is of one of whom 
not a living soul that we know has been able to give one word of 
information. The headstone bears the following inscription : 
"Anna Susan Mosteller, Born a Fetterman, Wife of Heinrich 
Hosteller, Born July 26, 1758, Died 15 Sept., 1822." Now, who 
was Anna Susan Fetterman? Was she a sister of our mother, 
Rosine? Was she the grandmother of the child, Rubet Marion, 
that sleeps under the clods of the valley beside her ? Was she the 
aunt of Susan Gernhardt Mosteller ? Did the Mostellers settle in 
Turbut after or before Heinrich and Rosine? And where was 
Heinrich Mosteller l)uried? No one now living seems to know. 
How soon we frail mortals forget, and are ourselves in turn for- 
gotten. The next three graves in the same row contain Jacob 
Doebler, his wife Susanna, and their daughter Lydia. The 
Doeblers had been neighbors of Heinrich and Rosine, ami were 
members of the same communion. Mrs. Doebler, we have been 
informed, was a sister of George Hosteller's, so the two families 
were evidently as closely related in life as they are now connected 
in death. Next in the same row are six graves of the Fogleman 
branch of the Gernhardt family, viz. : 

1. Catharine Fogleman, who died in 1840 — just 20 years 

after her father, Heinrich. 

2. Peter, Catharine's husband, who died in 1848. In the 
picture of the church and graveyard the tall, slightly 
curved top headstone just back of the horse-shed marks 
Peter's grave. 

3. George, infant son of Catharine and Peter. 

4. :\Iaky Ann, first wife of Catharine's son, Peter ; il. July 
I ' I, 1851. 



302 The Gernhardt Family History. 



5. William, infant son of Mary Ann (Buck) and Peter, 
Jr. ; d. July 28, 1851. 

6. John Calvin, infant son of same; d. March 20, 1866. 
"Susanna Mosteller loved children," said the still living blind 

Daniel, the youngest of Baltzer's five children, "and the children 
all took to her." Daniel was born only a fev\^ months after Rubet 
Marion, but he well remembers his beloved and ever cheerful 
aunt, Susanna, who survived her lamented Rubet fifteen years. I 
myself saw Susanna but once that I remember, two or three years 
before she died, and being then only about seven years old, I have 
but a slight recollection of her. My father one winter day de- 
livered a load of chairs and bedsteads that had been ordered by 
residers in Delaware Township, and took me with him. On the 
way home we drove around by her humble abode, which I well re- 
member as a one and one-half-story, unpainted, three or four room 
house, and made her a friendly call. The weather had suddenly 
become; disagreeably blustery and cold, and I was ill and had be- 
come thoroughly chilled. With gratelul feelings I still remember 
how my distressed condition appealed to her motherly love, and 
how solicitous she immediately became to make me comfortable. 
I can still see the dear, loving soul as she poured some whiskey 
into a pan and set the fluid a burning, and remember the childish 
interest with which I watched the blue flames as they whirled and 
twirled over the pan, and wondered what she was doing that for. 
I had been dosed so much that I had got a perfect horror of evers^- 
thing in the form of medicine, — the drugging habit is another out- 
rage on juvenile humanity, of which I was a victim, — but after she 
had with her persuasive kindness given me a taste of the remedy 
thus prepared, I was quite willing to take all she was willing to 
administer, as I found I was for once getting a remedy that was 
not hard to take. More than this respecting our kind Aunt I do 
not remember. The early histo.ry of our American family should 
have been written sixty or more years ago. 

Not only is Susanna's little family now extinct. The same 
sad fate has befallen the households of all her sisters and brothers. 
All have had their day, and have gone the way of all the earth. 



Tlic Ccniliardt Painily History. 303 



And so have nearly all the 47 families of the third generation 
passed away, — eight of Heinrich's 55 grandchildren died single, — 
and many of even the 249 families of the 328 great-grandchildren 
are now no more. It is the way of the world. Every individual 
family now existing is destined some day to be in like manner 
broken up. A number of the 373 families of the fifth generation 
herein recorded — the record is not as complete as we had hoped to 
have it — have already been extinguished or dispersed. .And they 
of the sixth (many of the sixth are now married) and seventh 
generations, who are now in greatly augmented numbers coming 
to the front and taking the places of the departed and departing — 
thev too must follow the same universal trail of the great proces- 
sion that never stops moving to the land of silence, where, as Job 
says, "the weary be at rest." Human homes are like birds' nests, 
and, as Longfellow has tersely said, "there are no birds in last 
year's nest." If a family is not soon dissolved by all its members 
paying the common debt of nature, as in the case of Susanna's 
family, the dissolution presently begins by separation and disper- 
sion, as the children grow up, marry, leave home, and themselves 
in turn make homes and become the heads of families. Thus sin- 
gle families are born and die, come into being and pass away, just 
as the ever perishing members that constitute them come and go. 
Animals of all orders perpetuate their species, and alike live by 
eating, but the noble joys and blessings of family life, the pleas- 
ures and comforts that are earned by industry and frugality, and 
the fruits of reason and rectitude, belong to the human race, for 
whom God ordained the sacred institution of matrimon\-. Love 
of home, of children, of brothers and sisters, of parents, of kin- 
dred and humanity, and of truth, knowledge, virtue and noble 
deeds, should from first to last be the highest aim and daily les- 
son of Family Life. To make domestic life a happy condition, 
and honor God, man cannot live by bread alone, or exist and sub- 
sist merely by eating, as the low_er animals, but must live by every 
word that proceedeth out of- the mouth of Go<l. That is. man 
must live as God in His Word has enjoined : he must love antl not 
hate, he must be pure and not vile, he must be meek and humble 



304 The Gernliardt Family History. 

and not vain and proud, and must simply day by day do his duty. 
May this be the idea of Family Life and the record of every one 
who has in his veins the blood of Heinrich and Rosine Gernhardt. 

FAMILY MILITARY ROSTER. 

Twenty-nine members of the family who enlisted in the Union 
Army during the Civil War were of the fourth generation, and 
four who served in the recent war with Spain were of the fifth 
generation. Most of these kinsmen were still under age, still in- 
deed boys, when they put on suits of blue, shouldered guns, or 
buckled on sabres, and heavily equipped with canteens, haver- 
sacks, knapsacks, shelter tents and blankets, started campaigning 
down in Dixie as soldiers. All but four or five of the number are 
still living. See their respective family records for the particu- 
lars of their patriotic service : 

Jacob Branch : 

1. Philip Qarnett, Co. I, 126th Reg't N. Y. V. I. 

2. Charles Peter Lilley, Co. B, 177th Reg't Ohio V. I. 

3. Washington Garnhart, Co. H, 84th O. V. I. and Co. F, 

163d O. 

4. Samuel Garnhart, Co. I, 15th O. V. I.; d. of disease con- 
tracted in service. 

5. Ezra Llovd Eckis, Co. M, 8th Reg't O. V. I.^in Cuban 
War. 

6. Chauncy Wichterman, Co. H, 151st N. Y. V. I. 
Philip Branch : 

7. Adam Porter Mecum, 23d Ind. Heavy Artillery. 

8. Oren Lyman Cole, Co. B, 13th Minn. — in Philippine War. 

John Branch : 

9. Lewis Donmoyer, Co. E, 17th Pa. Cav. ; d. of wound. 



10 
II 
12 

13 
14 



Benjamin F. Donmoyer, One Hundred Day Service. 
Randolph W. Donmoyer, Co. E, 17th Pa. Cav. 
James Gernert, Co. G, 5th Pa. V. M. 
Jeremiah M. M. Gernerd, Co. E, 37th Pa. V. M. 
Matthias Gemert, Co. F, 4th Pa. Cav. 



Tlic Coiilianit luiDiilx History. xo 



j'-'D 



Catharine Branch : 

15. Jeremiah E. Baker, Co. II, 131st Reg't I'a. \'. I. 

16. Daniel W. Fogleman, Co. K, 88th Reg't I'a. V. I. 

17. Hiram A. Fogleman, Co. K, 88th Reg't Pa. V. I. 

Margaret Branch : 

18. Alexander L. Litchard, Co. D, 86th Reg't N. Y. V. I. 

19. Almanzo W. Litchard, New York Heavy Artillery. 

20. John B. Litchard, Co. D, F'irst New York Dragoons. 

21. Frank Ezra Litchard, Hospital Corps of U. S. A. in Span- 

ish-Am. War. 

22. Royal R. demons, Co. E, Ninth N. Y. Heavy Artillery. 

23. Julius E. demons, Co. E, Ninth N. Y. Heavy Artillery. 

Baltzer Branch : 

24. John B. Sees, Co. D, 7th Reg't Pa. V. Cav. 

25. Abraham S. Sees, Co. L, 28th Reg't U. S. V. I.— in late 

war with Spain. 

26. Robert D. Sees, Co. B, 131st Reg't Pa. Y. I. 
2y. David P. Garnhart, Co. H, 92d Reg't 111. V. I. 

28. Aaron Garnhart, Co. H, 92d Reg't 111. V. I. 

Anna Maria Branch : 

29. Charles S. Williams, i8th New York Battery. 



30 
31 

32 
33 



John Kinman, tell at Pittsburg Landing. 

Charles C. Kinman, 23d Kentucky \^il. I. 

Nathan T. Kinman, Co. G, 79th Pa.V. I. 

George W. Williams, 23d N. Y. I. 1'.. : d. of yellow fever. 

"Oh, Peace! thou source and soul of social life; 
Beneath whose calm, inspiring influence 
Science his view enlarges. Art refines, 
And swelling Commerce opens all her ports; 
Blest be the man divine who gave us thee ! " 



SUPPLEMENTAL NOTE. 



I thought I had given the proof sheets of this book the most 
careful supervision, but after it was in print I had the mortifica- 
tion to find that it is marred by some aggravating errors. Other 
mistakes will most likely be found by the kindred especially inter- 
ested, as in transcribing so many dates and names — often indis- 
tinctly written — it was an easy matter to misapprehend. When 
an error is discovered it should forthwith be noted on the margin, 
so that the record as printed may not pass down to future genera- 
tions as being correct. But by a very singular and vexing fatal- 
ity in arranging the manuscript it chanced that I had even left 
out one whole family. The following registry should have ap- 
peared on page 199 as a part of the record of JOHN GERNET^: 

6. Ida J.Gernert^ b. May 4, 1862; m. Henry D. Sittler, Sept. 

22, i828; r. Trexlertown, Pa, Four children: Lizzie B.''. 

b. March 24, 1889; Hannah M.^ b. March 11, 1890; Wil- 

, liam J.5, b, April 20, 1893 ; Clarence H.^ b. Nov, 30, 1896, 



INDEX. 



a 



[This index takes in but four generations. To have included 
all the names would have required more than treble the number 

of pages. The record of any one of the later generations may 
quickly be found, however, by first finding the name of the parent, 
or grandparent, or the branch of the family to which the member 
belongs]. 

Ancestors in Europe 2^ 

Altmire, Angeline S 97 

Artman, Emma Fogelman^ 215 

Allen, Lettie Litchard^ 246 

Amess^ Catharine Litchard^ 251 

George J.* 252 

BRANCH, MAGDALENA SHAFER 89 

JACOB GARNET 97 

ANNA ELIZABETH GERNHARDT 138 

PHILIP GARNHART 139 

JOHN GERNERT 149 

CATHARINE FOGELMAN 20 r 

MARGARET LITCHARD 227 

BALTZER GARNHART -rx) 

ANNA MARIA WILLIAMS 285 

SUSANNA MOSTELLER 300 

Billson, Sarah Lilley* 109 

Barton, Sarah Louise Garnett* 1 14 

Brubaker, Susan Garnharf' 122 

Bloom, Sarah Ann Friedley' 138 

Brownell, Malina Coller'* 142 

Birds, Clara C. Gleason and her pet^ 1 44 

Bortz, Catharine Donmoyer'* 131 

Mary Ann Gernert Gackenbacii^ 177 

Bleiler, Catharine E. J. Gernerf* 17^1 

Bomgardner, Anna M. Gernerf* ii)4 

Baker, Jeremiah^ 216 

Board, Lydia M. Fogleman' 226 



3o8 Index. 

Becker, Emma C. FoglemaiT* 22j 

Bridinger, Mary Ann Garnhart^ 282 

BergerstocK, Mary Etta Garnharf' 284 

Conestoga Wagons 48 

Clark, Lydia Garnet^ 135 

Chamberlin, Lovina Friedley^ 137 

CoLLER, Catharine Garnhart^ 140 

Cruse, Sarah K. Garnhart^ 143 

James Hervey^ 144 

Cole, Mary Catharine Lyman'* 147 

" Oren Lyman"* 147 

Carr, Harriet F. Litchard'* 231 

Clark, Harriet E. Keihle* ... 251 

" Lucy Keihle* 251 

Crane, Deliah Steffy^ 251 

Clemons, Margaret Rebecca Litchard^ 253 

Royal Rowland^ 253 

Julius Edgar* ; 258 

" James Elmer* 259 

" Clarence Rafaella* . 260 

" Ernest E.* 260 

Crayden, Martha Luthera demons* 260 

Curtis, Sarah Ann Kinman^ 292 

Delaware Run Church 64 

Denton, Harriet Esther Garnet* 108 

Dellinger, Margaret Lilley^ 113 

DoNMOYER, Hannah Gernert^ 151 

William* 152 

Lewis* 155 

Benjamin Franklin"* 1 57 

Rudolph Wellington* 158 

Milton Taylor^ 166 

Duck Farm, C. W. B. Gemerd's 174 

Dangle, Mary C. Mosteller^ 205 

Hiram P.^ 205 

Dunbar, Marietta Fogleman* 214 

Downs, Harriet L.^ 231 

Dunning, Dora Litchard^ 246 

Dyer, Susannah Garnhart* 285 

" Crissa Alida May Garnhart* 285 



Index. ^09 

Easton, Margaret Garnet* loS 

Eckis, Martha Jane Garnharf' 1 24 

" Ecra Lloyd° i _'4 

Eyster, Catharine Jane Garnhart* 282 

Family, growth of 79 

names 86 

Friedley, Anna Maria E. Garnet^ 137 

George* 137 

Felty, Anna M. Donmoyer* 1 54 

Fisher, Maria E. Hinterleiter* 169 

*' Fianna E. Hinterleiter* 170 

Fritz, Hannah ]\I. Gernert* 181 

Fenstermacher, Anna E. Gernerd* 197 

Frey, Sarah J. Gernerd* 197 

Fogleman, Jacob* 203 

" JoHN^ 212 

■' Henry* 213 

John* 214 

" Ephraim* 214 

" Thomas* 215 



(( 



<< 






Simon P.* 215 

Peter^ 224 

Daniel Wesley* 224 

Hiram Augustus* 225 

David Emerson* 226 

Wilson Jefferson* 226 

Charles E.* 226 

Rebecca Ellen* 22y 

Peter Elmer* 22J 

O. Frank* 227 

Frey, Catherine Fogleman'^ 216 

Fairchild, Elizabeth Keihle* 248 

Gernhardt, the name 68 

Garnet, George^ 1 02 

Jacobs 102 

John* 102 

Daniel* 103 

George* 103 

Jacob* 104 

Garnett, Philip* 104 

Garnet, William* '^V 

Henrv* "^^ 



o 



lo Index. 



a 



ti 



ii 



a 



a 



Garnett, John^ 113 

" Stephen^ 115 

" George* 115 

Garnhart,, Daniel^ 115 

John*, (Daniel^) 116 

Jacob* 116 

George* 121 

David* 122 

Washington* 123 

Samuel* 123 

Davids (PhiHp2) 1 143 

David Bieber* 143 

JoHN^, (Baltzer^) 277 

Charles William*, (John^) 277 

" Henry Clay* 277 

" George W^ashington* 2"^^ 

David Porter* 278 

Aaron* 280 

John Willis* 280 

Benjamin^ 281 

James Pollock* (Benjamin^) 281 

Samuel^ 281 

" George Jefferson*. (Samuel^) 282 

Benjamin Franklin* 283 

Daniel^ 283 

George Treon*, (Daniel^) 284 

Levi Henry* 284 

John Albert* 285 

William Thomas* 285 

Gernert, Jonas^ 173 

Jonathan* 173 

Isaac Granville* 177 

" James* 179 

William Morris^ 180 

John*, (Nathan^) 181 

Milton Oscar* 181 

Solomon^ 192 

Joseph H.^ '. 192 

Hiram* 193 

Solomon Svlvester* 193 

Milton J.4. '. . . . 194 

Jeremiah* 194 

" Henry^ .... 194 



a 



a 



« 
a 

iC 

tc 
ii 
ii 



Index. 7,11 

Gernert, Matthias^, (Henry^) 194 

Aaron^ 194 

George Alfred'^ 195 

William^ 196 

JOHN^ 198 

' Milton-t, ( Johii3) 198 

Hannah'* 1 98 

Albert Strauss'* 199 

Morris^ 199 

Benjamin German^ 199 

Selden Morris S.^ 199 

Addie Lora'* 199 

Alvertie Carthagina'* 199 

Reuben^ 200 

Revere'* 200 

Emma C.'* 200 

Oliver H.^ 201 

Gernerd, Charles Alfred"* 173 

Charles Wilson B} 174 

Nathan^ 178 

Dr. Harrison Augustas'* 179 

George William'* 180 

David^, (John2) 181 

Jeremiah Meitzler Mohr"* 182 

James William'* 196 

INIilton Jonas^ 197 

Charles Peter^ 198 

Gleason, Clara W. Cruse"* 144 

Gackenbach, Charles W."* 178 

Grumbein, Helen Gernert^ 193 

Grey, Mary Amess'* 252 

Gaston, Lelia Alberta demons'* 259 

Generations, the first three 77 

Hinterleiter, Catharine Gernert^ 167 

Jacob4 167 

Joshua* 168 

John G.'* 170 

William G.'* 17' 

DanieH 172 

Charles Alfred"* 172 

Hess, Sarah A. Hinterlciter"* 170 

Hitt, Martha Ann Garnetf* 114 



312 Index. 

Holben, Fianna A. Gernerd* 176 

Haines,- Eliza A. Gackenbach^ 177 

Hassinger, Susanna Gernert^ 193 

Hilliard, Caroline Fogleman* 214 

Hoffman, Rachel Fogleman"* 215 

Harlem AN^ Elizabeth Fogleman^ 215 

Joseph F."* 215 

" Davis Emmerson^ 216 

Hart, Lucy E. Harleman* 216 

Holland, Alma J. Fogleman'* 226 

Harger, Harriet Mosteller"* 252 

Indians, passing of the 33 

Indian Walk 43 

Net-sinkers 53 

Indians, shamefully treated 118 

Indian Relics 187 

Inheritance, law of 85 

Kreider, Conrad, W. M. General 36 

" Caroline Gernert^ 195 

Klotz, Ellen Fianna 197 

Kuder, Maria A. Gackenbach'* . : 177 

Keller, Sarah E. Gernerd^ 180 

Keihle, Elizabeth Litchard^ 247 

Rev. David Litchard'* 247 

Rev. Amos Augustus"* 249 

Alvin Melvin^ 25J 

Carrie Louise^ 251 

KiNMAN, ROSANNA WiLLIAMS AND NaTHAN^ 288 

Seth 288 

John* 292 

Charles C.^ 293 

William H.4 294 

Nathan* 294 

Language and Living, change of 72 

LiLLEY, Susanna Garnet^ 109 

John W.4 Ill 

Jacob* Ill 

Charles Peter* iii 

Daniel* 112 

Long, Susanna Wichterman* 130 

Lyman, Hannah Bieber Garnhart^ 146 



it 



a 
a 



Index. 3 1 3 

Lyman, Albert Clark^ 1 46 

James Hope^ 1 47 

Eddy Ellsworth'* 148 

Leslie, Anna M. Lyman^ 146 

Levan, Anna jNlaria Gernerf^ 178 

Laudermilch, Sarah A. C. Gernerf* 195 

Lovtdenslager, Hannah M. Fogleman^ 212 

LiTCHARD, William^ 230 

John William^ 230 

" David^ 231 

" George^ 231 

" Alexander^ 232 

" Hon. Almanzo W."* 234 

John B> 237 

" Frank EsraP 240 

Lemuel H.^ 246 

" George Roger"* 246 

^Merrill, Carrie Garnett^ 115 

McNinch, Clarissa Cruger'* 141 

Mecum, Rosena F. Garnhart* 142 

" Adam Porter^ 142 

Aleitzler, Ellen C. Gernert^ 181 

MOSTELLER, AL\RY FOGELMAN^ 203 

" Joshua David^ 204 

William H> 205 

" Hiram Washington* 212 

John^ 251 

William* 252 

jMcCormick, Emma Williams 2i:<~ 

Mule "Dave," Seth Kinman and his 289 

Maloney, Mary Sophia Kinman* 294 

New World Life 25 

Northampton County, exodus from 45 

Northumberland Countv, settlement in 49 

"Now and Then" '. 185 

Norman, Lorctta Elsie demons'* 2r)o 

Newman, Mary L. Williams'* 2^~ 

Owings, Elizabeth Garnharf* 1 i" 

Otis, Adilla Leonora Clemons* 2;-) 

Politics and Religion 5.^ 

Progress of the Human Race 74 



314 Index. 

Philpot^ Susanna Lilley* 109 

Palmer, Mary Lilley* no 

Priestley, Dr. Joseph 150 

Page, Caroline Sees'* 2y6 



^T 



Redemptioners ' 

Revolution, War of the S^, 

Religious Sects, the unification of 56 

Reed, Melvina C. Fogleman^ 225 

Roberts, Elizabeth Rejinah Garnhart^ 284 

Rock, Margaret Ellen^ - 284 

Sinking Springs 49 

Superstition 58 

Spiritualism 62 

Shaf er, Magdalena^, and Andrew 89 

" Henry^ 90 

" George* 91 

" John* 92 

" Andrew* 96 

Schaffer, Frances A. Garnet* 108 

Sherman, Orra Ann Lilley* 113 

Sipe, Esther Garnhart* 122 

Sotzen, Lovina Garnhart* 124 

Seigfried, Eliza Hinterleiter* 169 

Stronninger, Mary A. Gernerd* 196 

Stuckert, Alice Amanda Gernert* 200 

Snakes as Pets 206 

Sheadle, Mary C. Harleman* 216 

Stadler, Elmira Fogleman* 225 

Smith, Elizabeth Litchard* 231 

Steffy, Mary Litchard^ 251 

Monroe* 251 

Sees, Mary Garnhart^ 263 

William H.* 263 

Jacob Sylvester* 263 

John B.* 264 

Abraham Smith^ 273 

Robert Dunn* 275 

Scott, Ellen Jane Kinman* 294 

Taming Wild Birds 144 

Taylor, Sarah Elizabeth Garnhart* 282 






a 



Index. 315 



62 



Witchcraft Farce 

WiCHTERMAN, ClARISSA GaRNET^ 'J 

John D.^ ^30 

Chauncv^ ^ 



(< 



Edward L.'' ^^"t 

Charles Luther*. ^00 

Widrig, Mary J. Wichterman* ^^3^ 

Wringal, Amanda Friedley* ^^' 

Walton, Maria W. Garnhart^ i4<^ 

Wieand, Magdalena A. Gernerd* i9 

Walters, Mary Katharine Garnhart* -^^ 

Williams, John^ 

Charles S.* -"^•_- 

Theodore C* 

Charles C.^ ^99 

George W.* ^99 

Young, Maria Garnet* 







286 
286 



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